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“Phoenix Rise,” fresh off its world premiere at Cannes’ MipJunior, is a “show about second chances,” say creators Matt Evans and Perrie Balthazar.

Produced by Canada’s Sinking Ship Entertainment and BBC Kids & Family Productions, it sees six marginalized students forming a bond at their new school in the U.K.’s West Midlands. With 20 episodes clocking in at 30 minutes, it’s targeting an audience of 10 years and older.

Alex Draper, Luca Alves, Lauren Corah, Tara Webb, Krish Bassi, Imogen Baker and Orla McDonagh star.

“Kids lead frantic lives. We wanted to capture that energy while also giving emotional moments some room to breathe,” Evans and Balthazar tell Variety in a joint statement.

“It’s a fast-moving show which reflects the chaos and confusion of being a teenager. Something we all can remember!”

Previously, Evans has been a writer on “EastEnders” or “Riviera.” He will also work on the upcoming...

Sky Sets ‘A Town Called Malice’ Cast

Sky has set cast and filming dates for 1980s Costa del Sol drama A Town Called Malice. Save Me star Jason Flemyng will helm the project as Albert Lord, the head of a family of petty thieves from South London who decamp to Spain to profit from an unexpected windfall. Joining Flemyng are Jack Rowan (Born to Kill), Tahirah Sharif (The Haunting of Bly Manor), Martha Plimpton(Mass), Dougray Scott (Ever After, Mission: Impossible 2), Lex Shrapnel (Captain America), Daniel Sharman (Fear the Walking Dead), George Jaques (The Third Day: Autumn) and Eliza Butterworth (The Last Kingdom). Filming begins later this month on the series from Vertigo Films, Rogue State and Sky Studios, which is due to air on Sky Max and Now TV next year. Bulletproof scribe Nick Love is lead writer and is joined in the writers’ room by Melissa Bubnic,...

After Season 7 consistently won its time slot this year on ITV, the network has ordered an eighth season of Law & Order: UK. Shooting starts next month on the British version of the franchise for broadcast in 2014. Bradley Walsh, Georgia Taylor, Paterson Joseph and Dominic Rowan are returning with newcomer Ben Bailey Smith (Derek) joining the force. The new season will be produced by Jane Dauncey. Alison Jackson and Jane Featherstone will executive produce for Kudos Film and Television. The scripts are written by Nick Hicks Beach, Tom Grieves, Richard Stokes, Matt Evans, Jamie Crichton, Louise Ironside and Noel Farragher. Mat King, Joss Agnew and Jill Robertson will direct. Averaging 5.4M viewers, Season 7 maintained a 21.3% share. Previous seasons have aired in the U.S. on BBC America.