This time however, the show will be a a co-production between Starz entertainment (who will air the show in the US), BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide. BBC Worldwide will distribute the show outside the U.S.
The deal was jointly announced today by Starz, LLC President and CEO Chris Albrecht and BBC Worldwide Productions EVP Jane Tranter. Russel T. Davies and Julie Gardner will also be returning to the series.
"We have a long history of working with many U.S. networks, but it is incredibly exciting to be working with Starz for the first time, as well as to be reunited with the best of British in Russell, Jane and Julie,” said Ben Stephenson of BBC Drama Commissioning.
“’Torchwood' has attracted remarkable attention and loyalty in both the UK and U.S.,” said Jane Tranter, Executive VP, BBC Worldwide Productions in the official announcement, “and in this new partnership with Starz the next chapter will not only reward our current fans, but also introduce new viewers to the most impressive installment yet."John Barrowman (Capt. Jack Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper) will return, but this time around they won't be just confined to Wales or the UK. The new series will see the 'Torchwood' team travel the world to save the day, new cast members will be added to the team, to reflect the more international scope of the series.
“'Torchwood' will burst back onto the screen with a shocking and moving story with global stakes and locations that will make it feel bigger and bolder than ever,” said Stephenson.
It's very much the next step. It's not a new version, it's not a reboot. We're simply moving countries. The show was previously a format show -- monster of the week. The breakthrough was "Children of Earth" and that it became one long story. It's not going to be 'Lost' and take 20 years to find out what's going on. It's going to have a most remarkable conclusion after 10 episodes.
"The show is now going to represent the BBC and the UK worldwide even more. And Starz, the American network, thought we were good enough to take this on board to collaborate and co-produce it with the BBC. It’s just incredible that we’ve still got Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter on board. I’m ecstatic. The fans who have stuck by waiting to hear are going to be heavily rewarded."Details have also been revealed by TV insider Michael Ausiello of three new characters who will appear in the upcoming fourth series:
"The show is out to cast a new series regular — Rex Matheson, a wickedly funny (operative word: wicked) CIA agent born to make waves. Almost as key to the new season are recurring characters Esther Katusi, a CIA grunt in her early 20s who learns what she’s really made of only when she’s forced to, and Oswald Jones, a convicted murderer and pedophile who will be as shocked as anyone to learn how easily infamy and fame can be exchanged for one another."
