On the same day that the U.S. version of Life on Mars gets pink slipped, we get news that the first season of the British original version is finally coming to DVD. The press release from Acorn Media, after the cut:
“One of the greatest limited run television series I’ve ever seen”
– Stephen King for Entertainment Weekly
Silver Spring, MD; March 3, 2009 – Acorn Media Group partners with Kudos Film & Television for the highly-anticipated DVD release of Life on Mars, Series 1, the original, BAFTA and International Emmy-winning U.K. series. The first series of the British science fiction and police drama will be released on July 28, 2009 as a 4-volume DVD boxed set (SRP: $59.99; 8 Episodes). Starring John Simm (State of Play) and Philip Glenister, the hit U.K. series has been remade in the U.S. with Jason O’Mara and Harvey Keitel, and currently airs on ABC.
“Life on Mars is among the greatest shows to ever come out of the UK, and Acorn Media is thrilled to be bringing it to DVD in North America,” said Don Klees, Vice-President for Programming, Acorn Media U.S.
Daniel Isaacs, Joint Managing Director, Kudos Film & Television, added, “We’re delighted to partner with Acorn Media to bring Life on Mars, Series 1 and subsequent series of the show to DVD in the U.S. This season one box-set will include some added extras for our fans who we hope will enjoy it as much on DVD as they did when the show was first broadcast in the U.S.”
An action-packed and innovative drama series, Life on Mars follows Detective Chief Inspector Sam Tyler (John Simm) a driven and ambitious young detective for the Greater Manchester Police in 2006. After a near fatal car accident Sam wakes up, dazed and confused, in 1973, struggling to understand what’s real. Has he gone back in time? Is he in a coma? Or has he simply gone insane? What follows is Sam’s 21st century account of 70s life feeling like a fish out of water while investigating some of the hardest cases he has ever faced. Sam’s new boss is hard-nosed DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister, Vincent), who gets results by trusting his gut instinct and, all too often, sheer brute force.
Life on Mars aired in the U.K. on BBC One for two series (2006-2007) and broadcast in the U.S. on BBC America. Acorn Media U.S. will release the second and final series on DVD in 2010.
Kudos Film & Television produces current hit U.K. dramas Hustle and the award-winning Spooks. Kudos also produced The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard, which Acorn Media released on DVD in the U.S. in October 2007 and is currently being remade by Lifetime Television.
