Exclusive: Merlin is returning to Syfy. Multiple sources are telling me that the cabler has renewed its licensing deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) for Merlin and acquired the US broadcast rights to the show’s fifth season. I’m also being told that the show’s 13 episode fifth season is set to premiere on Syfy in January 2013, alongside the third season of Canadian import Lost Girl.
Merlin is produced by Shine TV and tells the story of the legendary wizard during the times of King Arthur. The drama series stars Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Angel Coulby, Katie McGrath, Richard Wilson, Anthony Head and John Hurt. The show’s fifth season was comissioned by the BBC in 2011 and is due to begin airing in the UK on BBC One later this year.
Syfy’s acquisition of the fifth season of Merlin is the latest in a line of acquisitions that the network has made in recent months to bulk up its schedules for next year. In addition to Merlin, Syfy also recently acquired the exclusive US rights to the UK series Sinbad, the third season of Canadian series Lost Girl and are believed to be in talks to acquire Canadian series Continuum, as reported by Deadline. Merlin, Sinbad and Continuum will form part of Syfy’s 2012-2013 line-up which will also see the return of Being Human and the launch of its newest original series Defiance.
