Reelz expands original slate

US cablenet ReelzChannel is pushing further into original programming after adding two scripted dramas and its first documentary series to its schedule.

Bomb Girls

Biblical four-part miniseries Barabbas, based on the novel by Par Lagerkvist, tells the story of the man whose life was spared by the decision to crucify Jesus Christ. It will be produced by Italy’s Compagnia Leone Cinematografica and is due to begin filming in Tunisia.

Bomb Girls is a Second World War drama following the stories of women who risk their lives in a munitions factory. It is produced Back Alley Film Productions and Canada’s Muse Entertainment, which previously produced another Reelz miniseries, The Kennedys.

Beverly Hills Pawn, meanwhile, is the first series coming out of Reelz’s development deal with Asylum Entertainment, which was announced last May.

The half-hour doc series is also the network’s first foray into reality programming, taking viewers inside the world of a pawnshop in the exclusive suburb and introducing shop owner Yossi Dina.

The three new series follow medieval drama World Without End, the second season of Steven Seagal’s True Justice and spy thriller XIII on Reelz.

Stan E Hubbard, CEO of Reelz, said: “With each new series we’ll showcase our network’s ‘TV about movies’ approach, with more original programming to take viewers behind the scenes of our series, into the careers of the casts and creators and deep into the vast world of movies.”