Welcome to the Jungle: CTV Acquires ZOO, the Event Series of the Summer

â€" Buzzed-about summer event series from CBS Studios International is the first pick-up from the L.A. Screenings for CTV's Summer Schedule â€"
â€" Based on James Patterson's #1 best-selling novel, ZOO stars James Wolk (MAD MEN), Kristen Connolly (HOUSE OF CARDS), Billy Burke (REVOLUTION), Nonso Anozie (DRACULA), and Nora Arnezeder (Safe House)

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LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2015 /CNW/ -Â The new event series of the summer has arrived. As the first pick-up from the L.A. Screenings, CTV announced today it has acquired the new, much buzzed-about dramaZOO for its Summer 2015 lineup. The 13-episode event series airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO, beginning June 30. Based on James Patterson's #1 best-selling novel, which has been translated in six languages and has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, ZOO is a global thriller about a wave of violent animal attacks against humans that is sweeping the planet. ZOO stars James Wolk (MAD MEN), Kristen Connolly (HOUSE OF CARDS), Billy Burke (REVOLUTION), Nonso Anozie (DRACULA, Cinderella) and Nora Arnezeder (Safe House). The drama will also be available live and on demand on CTV.ca and CTV GO. Â

Click here for series premiere sneak peek trailer.

** Media Note ** Download photos for ZOO at BellMediaPR.ca

"CTV is excited to unleash the action-packedZOO for Canadian viewers this summer," said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. "Originally eyed for the big screen, ZOO is a television event thriller like nothing we have ever seen. The adventure and suspense in this adaptation is the perfect complement to CTV's Tuesday nights this summer."

Animals once ruled the earth, but what if they decided to take it back? In ZOO (Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO, beginning June 30), Jackson Oz (James Wolk, MAD MEN), a young, renegade American zoologist, spends his days running safaris in the wilds of Africa, when he begins noticing the strange behavior of the animals. As the assaults become more cunning, coordinated and ferocious, he is thrust into the race to unlock the mystery of the pandemic before there's no place left for people to hide. Kristen Connolly (HOUSE OF CARDS) plays Jamie, a passionate young journalist intent on uncovering the story behind the mysterious animal behavior she's been tracking. Billy Burke (REVOLUTION) stars as Mitch, an off-kilter animal veterinarian who prefers the simple company of animals to navigating the complexities of humans. Series regular Nonso Anozie (DRACULA, Cinderella) stars as a Botswanan safari tour guide named Abraham, with a deep understanding of wildlife, and Nora Arnezeder (Safe House) plays Chloe Tousignant, a former diplomat who is concerned about the unusual animal activity and takes refuge with Jackson (Wolk). ZOO also stars Carl Lumbly (ALIAS) in a guest starring role as Delavane â€" an enigmatic, veteran Interpol agent embedded within the hierarchy of the General Secretariat, who takes matters into his own hands, when faced with what he believes to be a global animal crisis.

ZOO is executive produced by Jeff Pinkner (FRINGE, LOST), Josh Appelbaum (Mission: Impossible â€" Ghost Protocol, ALIAS, LIFE ON MARS), Andre Nemec (Mission: Impossible â€" Ghost Protocol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Michael Katelman (RIZZOLI & ISLES) and Scott Rosenberg (High Fidelity, LIFE ON MARS), alongside James Mangold (Walk the Line, Girl, Interrupted), Cathy Konrad (Girl, Interrupted, Scream), Best-selling author James Patterson, Bill Robinson, Leopoldo Gout, and Steve Bowen. Brad Anderson (THE KILLING, FRINGE) is directing and also serves as an executive producer. ZOO is a CBS Television Studios production.

ZOO joins previously announced CTV Summer series: MASTERCHEF (May 20), SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (June 1), and MISTRESSES (June 18).

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About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 13 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.

SOURCE CTV