Syfy picks up Primeval: New World

Call it a case of better late than never.

According to Deadline, Syfy Channel has picked up the basic cable airing rights to upcoming genre series Primeval: New World.  The new series, a spin-off/continuation of the popular U.K. version about a team of scientists and animal experts that deal with prehistoric and futuristic creatures arriving in the modern world through anomalies in space and time (think Stargate meets Jurassic Park) premieres on the Canadian cable channel SPACE on October 29, but won’t arrive Stateside until sometime in 2013.

Syfy’s acquisition of the series follows an emerging trend for the network — importing shows produced from other countries in lieu of producing it themselves — that follows previous pick-ups of Canadian- and U.K.-made shows like Merlin, Lost Girl, and the forthcoming Continuum (which also contains Stargate actors and time-travel plot conceits).

GateWorld previously broke the news about the production and casting of the series, as it’s one for Stargate fans to keep their eyes on.  In addition to being executive produced by familiar names like Martin Wood and Gillian Horvath, and having several episodes directed by SG-1‘s Amanda Tapping and long-time Stargate talent Andy Mikita, the series will also include familiar faces from that franchise — including Louis Ferriera (Stargate‘s “Everett Young”), Lexa Doig (“Carolyn Lam”), Dan Payne (“Kull Warrior”), and many more.

The new series will also feature other familiar Vancouver talent, including Eureka‘s Colin Ferguson.  The series stars Ferguson’s Eureka co-star Niall Matter along with Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries).  Visual effects are being handled by VFX team Atmosphere (which contributed to all three Stargate series) and led by Stargate VFX guru Mark Savela.

Original U.K. series actor Andrew Lee-Potts will also reprise his role of Connor Temple in a couple of the new series’ first-year episodes.

The series’ U.S. broadcast deal also includes online video-on-demand rights going to Syfy sibling company Hulu — so even if you’ve cut the cord with your satellite or cable company and don’t have Syfy, you’ll still be able to see the series online.

We won’t lie — this is a series GateWorld is excited for.  During a pilgrimage to Vancouver, British Columbia earlier this year we visited the show’s production offices located at former Stargate home Bridge Studios for a chat with Martin and Amanda — and we were also lucky enough to go on a location shoot with cast and crew.  The excitement that all involved had toward the show was hard to contain — and with any luck, it will translate to television screens come premiere time.

Keep your browser locked here for more relevant updates!