[NEWS] "Mystic" renewed for two more seasons (UK kids' 'Pony Club Secrets' novels adaptation)

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From ScreenScribe.net...


Kiwi Pony Saga Mystic Rides Again
---------------------------------
Filming will start this month of another run of the NZ kidult
hit, Mystic.

TVNZ and CBBC have commissioned two more eight-part seasons
of the series based on the Pony Club Secrets books.

Here's the media release:

Libertine Pictures & Slim Film + Television
announce double series recommission

Libertine Pictures (NZ) and Slim Film + Television (UK)'s
internationally successful family action adventure Mystic
has been recommissioned for two more series by CBBC (UK)
and TVNZ (NZ).

Mystic was created for television and is written by Amy
Shindler and Beth Chalmers (Pat & Cabbage for ITV, Pauline
Pepys' Dowry for Radio 4, My Family for BBC One, Threesome 
for Comedy Central and Horrible Histories for CBBC) and is
based on New Zealand author Stacy Gregg's internationally
best-selling Pony Club Secrets book series.

Production on the two new series, each comprising 8 x 30min
episodes, commences on May 31 in New Zealand. Joining Amy
and Beth for series two and three are the talented New
Zealand writers Sam Shore (The Sounds, Filthy Rich), Martha
Hardy-Ward (Ellen is Leaving), Hamish Bennett (Bellbird)
and Briar Grace-Smith (Cousins, Waru).

British actor Macey Chipping (Holby City, Vampire Academy)
returns in the lead role of Issie Brown and is joined once
again by New Zealanders Antonia Robinson, Max Crean,
Jacqueline Joe (Top of the Lake), Josh Tan (Mulan, Tales of
Nai Nai) and Harriet Walton.

In the new seasons, Issie and her gang of horse-mad friends
will not only have to tackle all the usual trials and
tribulations of being a teenager - romance, identity,
friendship and conflict with parents - but will also have
to battle against new and unexpected threats to their
beloved stables and local environment.

In season two, their lives will be thrown into turmoil by
the arrival of a charismatic stranger and an intriguing
mystery after a valuable racehorse is poisoned. Not only
that, but Issie starts to get confusing visions of the
future from ghost horse Mystic and her celebrated rescue of
the wild herd in series one has attracted hordes of
destructive tourists to Kauri Point.

Rounding out the core cast are Laura Patch (After Life, Bad
Mother), who plays Issie's mother Amanda, and Cathy Downes
(Winter of Our Dreams, Shortland Street), who plays
grandmother Mitch, along with Phil Brown (The Brokenwood
Mysteries, American Playboy ), Kirk Torrance (The Dead
Lands, Outrageous Fortune), Carrie Green (Under the Vines)
and Jonny Brugh (What We Do In The Shadows, 800 Words).

Ari Boyland (Harrow, Reef Break, Power Rangers) and Sara
Wiseman (A Place to Call Home, The Sounds, Under the Vines)
are among the stellar New Zealand talent who join the
ensemble cast this year.

Richard Fletcher, Managing Director of Libertine Pictures
says: "We are thrilled that CBBC and TVNZ are supporting two
additional seasons of the show. It is exciting to be able to
bring fans of Mystic more adventure, humour and horses with
our Kauri Point characters.

"We're delighted that Mystic has developed its own following
off the back of Stacy Gregg's hugely successful Pony Club
Secrets books.

"With pre-production already well underway in New Zealand
we're looking forward to showcasing New Zealand and British
talent and our beautiful country to an even wider
international audience with two more compelling series."

Managing Director of Slim Film + Television and executive
producer, Simon Crawford-Collins, commented: "It's cracking
news to get a double recommission of Mystic.

"It's also a fantastic testament to what was achieved on
series one, by our exceptional writing team led by Amy and
Beth, our brilliant cast led by our rising star Macey
Chipping and the tireless production team spearheaded by our
colleagues at Libertine - all achieved through the most
challenging of times."

Amy Buscombe, Commissioning Editor, BBC says: "We loved
getting to know Issie and her friends in the first series of
Mystic - it's brilliant to have a series so engaged with the
outdoors and the environment, and we can't wait to bring those
stunning New Zealand locations back to our audience."

Mystic is a Libertine Pictures and Slim Film + Television
co-production, and co-commissioned by the UK's children's
channel, CBBC, and TVNZ (New Zealand), with investment from
NZ On Air, and is distributed by Daro Film Distribution.

Executive producers are Richard Fletcher for Libertine
Pictures, Simon Crawford-Collins for Slim Film + Television,
Amy Buscombe for CBBC, Brian Bird for Super Channel,
Pierre-Andre Rochat for Daro Film Distribution and Amy
Shindler and Beth Chalmers.

The two new series are produced by David Stubbs (Reservoir
Hill, Girl vs. Boy) in New Zealand and Jen Burnet in the UK.


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