Stephen King novella finds 'Haven' at Syfy

'Dead Zone' veteran will serve as showrunner on the adaptation of 'The Colorado Kid'

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Nov 30, 2009 1:10 PM

Stephen King

Credit: Mark Lennihan/AP

Syfy has picked up 13 episodes of "Haven," a thriller from Stephen King.

The project, based on on the novel "The Colorado Kid," will be co-financed through Universal Networks Intl. and will be produced and distributed through E1. The project will be the first property to be produced for Syfy Pay channels throughout most of the globe (sorry Canada and Scandinavia).

"E1 has successfully orchestrated the first Syfy global partnership with Syfy in the U.S. and their international pay channels and we couldn’t be more pleased," gushes E1 Television CEO John Morayniss. "What a combination: the Syfy brand, the pedigree of Stephen King and the global presence and reach of E1. With those ingredients, I predict a worldwide ratings hit for Haven. Syfy audiences and television viewers around the world will be enthralled with this exciting new series."

"The Colorado Kid" was published in 2005, released as an oddball paperback-only title for the Hard Case Crime imprint. The period novel focused on several residents of a Maine island attempting to solve a murder involving a John Doe known as The Colorado Kid.

The TV series doesn't sound like a particularly literal adaptation.

Syfy describes the plot thusly: "Deep in the heart of Maine, Haven is a town where people with supernatural abilities have migrated for generations because it mutes their powers, allowing them to lead normal lives. At least, until recently. When hot-shot FBI agent Audrey Parker is called to Haven to solve the murder of a local ex-con, she catches the killer but uncovers a much deeper mystery about this town. Each week, as the town-peoples’ dormant powers begin to express themselves, Audrey will try to keep these supernatural forces at bay while unraveling the many mysteries of Haven – including one surrounding her own surprising past in this extraordinary place."

Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn are writing the pilot and will executive produce. "The Dead Zone" veteran Scott Shepherd will serve as showrunner.

"'Haven' is the quintessential Stephen King town, full of complex, yet identifiable, characters and compelling supernatural situations," states Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Content for Syfy and Co-Head, Original Content for Universal Cable productions. "Sam and Jim wrote a great pilot, and we can’t wait to see Scott, Lloyd, and Shawn join them in bringing this town to life as a series. We also couldn’t be more excited to partner with our international Syfy channels and be in business with E1 who will definitely deliver the high-quality production value we expect."

Syfy's most recent series pickup, also done preemptively without a pilot or cast, was a remake of the British "Being Human" format.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.