Sky1 has signed a deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution for the linear UK TV rights to the highly anticipated new drama series FRINGE, from J.J. Abrams (Lost), Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the team behind the upcoming Star Trek feature, Mission: Impossible 3 and Alias. FRINGE will receive its UK premiere on Sky1 this autumn.

Starring newcomer Anna Torv (Mistresses and the upcoming HBO miniseries The Pacific), Josh Jackson (Dawson’s Creek, Bobby), John Noble (Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King), Lance Reddick (Lost, The Wire), Kirk Acevedo (Invincible, Oz), Mark Valley (Boston Legal, ER), Blair Brown (The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd) and Jasika Nicole (The Mastersons of Manhattan), FRINGE will thrill, terrify and explore the blurring line between science fiction and reality.

The story begins as an international flight lands at Boston’s Logan Airport with passengers and crew all having met grisly deaths. FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Torv) is called in to investigate. When the search nearly kills her partner, Special Agent John Scott (Valley), a desperate Olivia searches frantically for someone to help and she is led to scientific researcher Dr. Walter Bishop (Noble). There’s only one catch: he’s been institutionalized for the last 20 years and the only way to question him requires calling on his estranged son, Peter (Jackson), for help. Under Special Agent Phillip Broyles (Reddick), the trio discovers that what happened on that fatal flight is only a small piece of a larger, more shocking truth.

David Smyth, Head of Acquisitions, Sky1 commented: “We’re delighted to have secured the rights to Fringe, which we believe will thrill a new generation of viewers much like The X-Files did 15 years ago. Together with Lost, we’re honoured to be the home for J.J. Abrams’ shows here in the UK!”

Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television, commented: “This unique dramatic thriller is a perfect fit for Sky1, which is a great UK home for Fringe, one of our most highly anticipated television series of the new season. J.J. Abrams and his partners have created a compelling series that has been eagerly anticipated since its announcement, and we look forward to working closely with Sky1 to make Fringe a hit with their audience.”