EXCLUSIVE: History UK is adding another exclusive drama title to their line up. The A+E Networks UK backed channel has acquired the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to biker miniseries Gangland Undercover after striking a deal with A+E Studios International. The six-part mini will premiere on History UK later this year.
Gangland Undercover follows meth dealer turned ATF infiltrator Charles Falco’s three-year mission living a double-life as an ATF informant planted inside the one of the most historically dangerous motorcycle gangs, the California-based Vagos – a criminal group involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering and murder. Falco initially took on the assignment out of self-preservation, to avoid 20 years in prison on drug charges, but his outlook soon shifted, becoming a quest to achieve justice. Operation 22 Green, as it was known, ended in March 2006 with the arrests of 25 gang members.
Produced by Cineflix Productions for the US and Canadian History networks, Gangland Undercover is based on Falco’s 2013 memoir and stars Damon Runyan (Covert Affair), Paulino Nunes (Haven), James Cade (Copper), Don Francks (Hemlock Grove), Melanie Scrofano (Warehouse 13), Ari Cohen (Maps to the Stars), Stephen McIntyre (Haven), Ian Matthews (Lost Girl) and Patricia McKenzie (Mirador). Noel Baker served as the lead writer on the project, while Charles Tremayne, Kim Bondi, Julian P. Hobbs, Stephen Mintz and Elaine Frontain Bryant executive produced.
Gangland Undercover is the latest big-ticket drama acquisition for History UK, who, like the US History network, have been looking at branching out in this direction for the past few years. Earlier this year, the channel pacted with A+E Studios International to snap up revolutionary war mini Sons Of Liberty, which is currently unspooling on History UK in the Tuesday night 10pm time-slot. Other titles on History UK’s drama slate include Vikings and Starz’s pirate series Black Sails, which will assume the Tuesday night 10pm slot on July 14th, after Sons Of Liberty wraps its six week run.
