BBC America joins Musketeers

BBC America is continuing to exploit its coproduction model for original drama by partnering with BBC1 on a retelling of classic novel The Three Musketeers.

The Musketeers (10×60′), due to air in 2014, is a fresh take on the story and follows a band of soldiers assigned to protect king and country.

Writer Adrian Hodges is updating Alexandre Dumas’ novel into a story-of-the-week format while retaining its 17th century setting.

It is produced by the BBC’s in-house drama production unit for BBC1, with BBC America joining another coproduction partner, BBC Worldwide, on the project. Jessica Pope (Silent Witness) will exec produce.

The Musketeers was announced by BBC1 in May and is the latest BBC/BBC America coproduction. Others include spy thriller The Spies of Warsaw, Jack the Ripper-inspired Ripper Street and crime drama Luther.

BBC America also recently picked up Canadian sci-fi adventure drama Orphan Black, while it will debut its first original drama series Copper later this month.