At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Sky held a press room and panel for its upcoming original series A Discovery of Witches, which is an adaptation of the historical-fantasy novel by Deborah Harkness.
In the press room, we got the chance to speak with author Deborah Harkness, executive producer Lachlan MacKinnon, and stars Teresa Palmer (Hacksaw Ridge), Alex Kingston (ER, Doctor Who), Valarie Pettiford (Being Mary Jane) and Owen Teale (Game of Thrones). At the panel for the series, which was held just before the press room, it was announced that the series will also air on Sundance Now and Shudder, for those outside of the UK. The plan is that each season of the series will cover one of the books in the All Souls trilogy. During the interviews, we got a chance to take a look at the bewitched manuscript that plays a major role in the series.
Filmed in the UK at Wolf Studios Wales and on location in Oxford, A Discovery of Witches is a contemporary love story that begins against the backdrop of Oxford academic life, in a world where small numbers of witches, vampires and daemons live and work, unseen amongst humans, hiding in plain sight. Teresa Palmer is the brilliant historian Diana Bishop, a reluctant witch denying her heritage. The discovery of a bewitched manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library throws her into the heart of a dangerous mystery – and into the path of the enigmatic vampire and geneticist, Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode), who hides a dark family secret.
As Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the secrets of the ancient manuscript, their relationship develops, and events threaten to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between witches, vampires, daemons and humans. Alex Kingston plays Sarah Bishop – Diana’s aunt, Valarie Pettiford plays her partner Emily Mather, and Owen Teale plays Peter Knox, a member of the Congregation.
The eight-episode drama is produced by Bad Wolf. The series will make its debut in the U.S. and Canada on a date to be confirmed, with all episodes available simultaneously on both Sundance Now and Shudder, marking the first partnership of this kind for the two SVOD services. SundanceTV has also acquired second window linear rights to the series.
Teresa Palmer (“Diana Bishop”) & Lachlan MacKinnon (Executive Producer)
Alex Kingston (“Sarah Bishop”) & Valarie Pettiford (“Emily Mather”)
