20th Century Fox gives C4 five

Channel 4 in the UK has acquired broadcast rights to five new drama, animation and comedy shows from 20th Century Fox.

The broadcaster has picked up political thriller Homeland for its main channel along with two animated series and two comedies for its diginet E4.

Comedy New Girl, which will premiere on Fox in the US in September, will make its UK debut on E4 along with Apartment 23. Original animated series Allen Gregory and Napoleon Dynamite will also air for the first time in the UK on E4.

Homeland, starring Claire Danes, is based on Gideon Raff’s Israeli TV series Prisoners of War and is due to air on Showtime in the US this fall. The 13×60′ series is produced by Fox 21 and executive-produced by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa.

New Girl (22×30′) is a coproduction from Chernin Entertainment, Meriwether Productions, Kubro Meats and Kicks and Digs, in association with 20th Century Fox.

Apartment 23 is written by Nahnatchka Khan (American Dad), who also executive-produces the series. E4 will air 13 half-hour episodes produced by 20th Century Fox on a date to be announced.

Thirteen-episode series Allen Gregory is also from Chernin Entertainment.

Napoleon Dynamite is a seven-episode series based on the film of the same name and is executive-produced by Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess and Mick Scully.

Air dates for the UK premieres have yet to be announced.

C4’s chief creative officer Jay Hunt said: “Homeland is a compelling contemporary thriller that will compliment The Killing, and both New Girl and Apartment 23 will add to E4’s reputation as the home of the best of US comedy.”