Channel 4 reveals Houdini acquisition

The UK’s Channel 4 has acquired upcoming Adrien Brody drama miniseries Houdini.

The British network will launch the show this month buoyed by its debut last night on History in the US. Its debut took 3.7 million viewers, making it the biggest-rating cable miniseries premiere this year, according to Nielsen data.

Channel 4 bought show from Lionsgate, which has international distribution rights and is a coproducer.

Houdini follows Academy Award-winner Brody (The Pianist) as escape artist Harry Houdini as he rises to fame during the early 20^th century. Nicholas Meyer (Somersby) wrote the scripts, with Uli Edel (Homicide: Life on the Street) directing. The show comes from Lionsgate Television and A+E Television Studios.

“Houdini is the kind of premium programming that epitomizes the Lionsgate TV slate,” said Lionsgate’s managing director, international Peter Iacono. “We believe that Channel 4 is the perfect home for this television event, and we expect it to resonate with audiences in the UK.”

Last night’s strong ratings on History mean Houdini is the A+E-owned network’s third biggest scripted premiere ever, according to Adobe Analytics, trailing only The Bible and Hatfields & McCoys.