Netflix UK Acquires New Syfy Series ‘Ghost Wars’ From ‘Continuum’ Creator Simon Barry

Netflix has acquired the international rights, including the UK, to Ghost Wars, a new paranormal action series from Continuum and Van Helsing creator Simon Barry. Syfy will air the 13-episode series in the US.

Set in a remote Alaskan town that has been overrun by paranormal forces, Ghost Wars centres on local outcast Roman Mercer, played by Avan Jogia. To save the town from a mass haunting that threatens to destroy everyone in it, Roman must overcome the town’s prejudices and his own personal demons and harness his long-repressed psychic powers.

Vincent D’Onofrio, Kim Coates, Kristin Lehman and Meat Loaf co-star.

Barry, who serves as showrunner, has described the series as both a contemporary homage to classic psychological horror and a way to tell stories about human politics and how people’s beliefs are shaped by their own perspectives and biases.

Ghost Wars is produced by Nomadic Pictures, the company behind Van Helsing, which also premieres on Syfy in the US and on Netflix elsewhere. Production began in Vancouver on 1 May, with David Von Ancken directing the pilot. Chad Oakes and Mike Frislev executive produce alongside Barry, Dennis Heaton and Von Ancken, and the series is due to premiere later this year.