COLORADO AVE — MTV landed the rights to develop a U.S. version of the award-winning British hit “Skins,” it was announced Monday.
Created by the father-and-son team of Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, the E4 and Channel 4 series is about a group of British teens who are trying to grow up and find love and happiness.
Brian Elsley will be writing and executive producing the U.S. version, which the producers intend to set in Baltimore, Md., said MTV’s Liz Gateley, senior vice president of series development.
“In an effort to maintain the original production’s successful model wherein all the stories were written by a group of British teenagers, MTV will similarly join together unknown teenagers to write and star in the series,” according to an MTV statement.
Gateley said “Skins” is “one of those rare shows that cuts through to its core audience with unusually authentic stories due to the unique writing and casting process that Bryan pioneered.”
“Having personally pursued the U.K. project for almost two years, I am beyond thrilled to bring it to MTV in the U.S.,” she said. “We intend to preserve the authenticity of the British version and are excited to collaborate with the original team to develop stories that will speak to American youth.”
“Skins” will be produced by Company Pictures, a division of ALL3MEDIA, and Stormdog, the same companies that produce the Channel 4 series in the United Kingdom.
