Spike TV has greenlit Tut, a six-hour miniseries that will tell the story of the most famous ancient Egyptian Pharaoh, Tutankhamun. The project will be Spike’s first original scripted programming since 2011.
Tut will be produced by the same Canadian studio that made Reelz Channel’s The Kennedys, Muse Entertainment, reports Deadline. Production will start in the fall in Morocco and Canada.
“It couldn’t be a better time for Spike to re-enter the scripted arena,” Sharon Levy, executive VP of original series, told Deadline. She later added, “It’s a big, epic story with complex characters, remarkable heroes and strong women.”
Tut is set to cover the rise and struggles of Egypt’s youngest Pharaoh. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this will be the network’s first event series since 2007’s The Kill Point. It is also the network’s first overall original scripted project since Blue Mountain State ended in 2011.
This is the latest mini/event series from a cable network. Since the History Channel had a huge hit with Hatfields & McCoys and The Bible, several other networks have jumped in the fray.
Tut will be written and executive produced by Michael Vickerman, along with The Foster’s Bradley Bredeweg and Peter Paige.