Syfy picks up 'Haven'

(By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER - variety.com) Syfy has signed on to pick up 13 episodes of "Haven," a thriller based on Stephen King's novella "The Colorado Kid."
"Haven" reps the first project to be produced for Syfy outlets around the globe (except Canada and Scandinavia).

That's because Universal Networks Intl., the newly rebranded global channels unit of NBC Universal, had already signed on to co-finance the Stephen King drama "Haven."

Universal had secured the exclusive pay TV rights across the globe, except for the U.S., Canada and Scandinavia. Now, Universal Networks Intl. domestic sibling Syfy adds a U.S. outlet as well.

E1 is the studio producing and distributing "Haven."

"Haven" centers on a spooky town in Maine where cursed folk live normal lives in exile. When those curses start returning, FBI agent Audrey Parker is brought in to keep those supernatural forces at bay -- while trying to unravel the mysteries of Haven.

Scott Shepherd is the showrunner and will exec produce with Lloyd Segan and Shawn Piller. Shepherd, Segan and Piller were all exec producers on "The Dead Zone," which ran for six seasons and went off the air in 2008.

Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn are writing the pilot and will also serve as exec producers. E1's Morayniss and Noreen Halpern are exec producers as well.

"'Haven' is the quintessential Stephen King town, full of complex, yet identifiable, characters and compelling supernatural situations," Stern said. "Sam and Jim wrote a great pilot."

Morayniss pointed out that E1 helped orchestrate the first-ever partnership between Syfy in the U.S. and its international pay channels. Company is still shopping other international rights to "Haven."