FX Orders 'The Bridge' to Series

        FX has placed a 13-episode order for The Bridge, a new drama series from Writer/Producers Meredith Stiehm and Elwood Reid starring Demián Bichir and Diane Kruger. Production begins in April and the series premieres in July. The Bridge is a co-production of Shine America and FX Productions.

        Set on the border between El Paso and Juarez, The Bridge centers on two detectives, one from the United States (Kruger) and one from Mexico (Bichir), who must work together to hunt down a serial killer operating on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Executive Producer Meredith Stiehm (Homeland) and novelist and television writer/producer Elwood Reid adapted The Bridge for American television from the international hit series Bron, which was set on the border of Denmark and Sweden.

        The Bridge co-stars are Ted Levine, Annabish Gish and Thomas M. Wright with guest star Matthew Lillard. Geraldo Naranjo (Miss Bala) directed the pilot episode. Executive producers of The Bridge are Shine America's Carolyn G. Bernstein and Filmlance's Lars Blomgren. It will be distributed by Shine International.

        "For years networks have been trying to develop a drama series set on the U.S.-Mexican border without any success," said John Landgraf, Presiden and General Manger, FX Networks. "I'm thrilled to say that Meredith Stiehm and Elwood Reid have become the first to crack that creative code and they have done so magnificently. There have been great films set in that world - No Country for Old Men and Lone Star come to mind - but never a great TV series. This one is special. The setting, the writing, the direction, and the way it is brought to life by Demián Bichir, Diane Kruger and the rest of the cast makes for truly riveting drama."

        Stiehm and Reid said, "Working with FX has been amazing. The border has so many rich and compelling stories to tell and John Landgraf, Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, along with the Shine America team, are just as excited as we are to bring those stories to life."

        "We are thrilled to partner with FX on The Bridge, a series with tremendous auspices and a very strong international pedigree," says Shine America CEO Rich Ross. "As our first scripted series launch under the new Shine America banner, we could not be more proud of the team that has been assembled by Meredith, Elwood and Carolyn.