American remake for Being Human

BBC Three’s comedy/drama series Being Human is to get an American remake after the SyFy channel gave the green-light to a 13-part series from RDF Media USA.

 

The SyFy Channel in America has given the green-light to a 13-part remake of BBC Three’s comedy-drama series Being Human. The hugely popular series originally debuted on BBC Three as one of six pilot episodes for possible full series’ but it was the only one to be picked up and actually make it to a full series – Phoo Action was also picked up for a series on BBC Three but was later cancelled before it was aired. Following the pilot episode a slight creative regig saw several characters recast with only actor Russell Tovey remaining onboard the series. The first series enjoyed ratings success on BBC Three earlier this year and was subsequently repeated on BBC One and a second series has been commissioned.   

The American remake, for the SyFy Channel, will produced by RDF Media USA and one of the executive producers will be Rob Pursey who has the same role for the British series. Being Human has already aired in America on the BBC America channel where it gained a lot of interest from other broadcasters but it’s the SyFy Channel who will be airing the remake. It’s thought to be the first time a remake of a British series will be made entirely by an Independent production company and not co-produced with a big US studio. 

Being Human isn’t, of course, the only British series to get an American remake with fellow BBC series Life on Mars also being remade for American audiences. Although critically successful the American remake, which aired on ABC, wasn’t a ratings success and ran for 17 episodes until it was cancelled. Another British series due for an American makeover is ITV’s Primeval which was axed and then revived by ITV earlier this year. As well as an American makeover the franchise is also in the pipeline for a big screen version.