China detects Life on Mars

The original Life on Mars

BBC SHOWCASE: BBC Studios has partnered with a Beijing-based production house to create a Mandarin adaptation of Kudos Film & Television drama Life on Mars.

Pre-production on the series will start this year, with Phoenix Entertainment Group producing 24 episodes of the show, which originally aired on BBC1 in 2006.

The deal, announced at BBC Studios’ annual Showcase event in Liverpool today, marks the BBC production and distribution arm’s first partnership with Phoenix, which has a reputation in Asia for producing scripted series for SVoD platforms.

The remake will be based in 1990s Beijing, a time of economic growth and cultural prosperity, reflecting a “remarkable era of change, conflict and challenges” in China, BBC Studios said.

The original Bafta- and Emmy-winning Life on Mars, which starred John Simm and Philip Glenister, saw a present-day detective transported back in time after a near-fatal accident.

BBC Studios has previously licensed the format to Russia, Spain, the Czech Republic and South Korea.

Bihai Wu, VP and general manager at Phoenix Entertainment Group, said: “Following the huge success of our hit drama Day & Night, developed and produced by Phoenix Entertainment Group for Youku, we have been carefully considering other shows that could meet the criteria of high quality and consistency with our slate and brand. Life on Mars drew our interest because of its originality and superb storytelling.”

Kelvin Yau, senior VP and general manager for Greater China at BBC Studios, added: “Local drama adaptation is a growing business in North Asia, particularly in China, where it claims 48% of all format sales, and is a key focus for BBC Studios as we continue to bring the best of British TV to Chinese audiences.”