History Developing Scripted Series 'Knightfall'

The History Channel is in-development with Knightfall, a scripted series chronicling the actual events leading up to and following the persecution, downfall and burning at the stake of the Knights Templar on Friday the 13th, 1307, it was announced today by Dirk Hoogstra, EVP and General Manager, History & H2. Friday the 13th is known as a cursed day over 700 years later because of this event. Knightfall will be produced for History by A+E Studios in association with Jeremy Renner and Don Handfield’s production company The Combine and Midnight Radio.

Knightfall is created and executive produced by Don Handfield (Touchback, The Founder, Kill the Messenger) and Richard Rayner (L.A. Without A Map) with Jeremy Renner (American Hustle, The Hurt Locker) also serving as executive producer from The Combine. Executive producers from Midnight Radio are Jeff Pinkner (Alias, Fringe), Andre Nemec (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol), Josh Appelbaum (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) and Scott Rosenberg (Beautiful Girls). Dirk Hoogstra, Russ McCarroll and Julian P. Hobbs are Executives in Charge of Production for History.

'Vikings' Season 3 Kicks Off February 19 on History

The third season of Vikings premieres Thursday, February 19 at 10 p.m. ET on History. The new 10-episode season begins with Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) as King and follows the great responsibility that now rests on the shoulders of the former farmer.

With the promise of new land from the English, Ragnar leads his people to an uncertain fate on the shores of Wessex. King Ecbert (Linus Roache) has made many promises and it remains to be seen if he will keep them. But ever the restless wanderer, Ragnar is searching for something more ... and he finds it in the mythical city of Paris. Rumored to be impenetrable to outside forces, Ragnar and his band of Norsemen must come together to break down its walls and cement the Vikings legend in history.

The gripping family saga of Ragnar, Rollo (Clive Standen), Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) continues as alliances and loyal friendships are questioned, faith is catechized and relationships are strained. Vikings tells the extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of these warriors and portrays life in the Dark Ages, a world ruled by raiders and explorers, through the eyes of Viking society.

Below are descriptions of the new characters introduced in Season 3:

'Houdini' Mesmerizes 3.7 Million Viewers on Monday Night

Houdini concludes tonight on History.

Part one of History's miniseries event Houdini (#Houdini), starring Academy Award® winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist) as The Great Harry Houdini, mesmerized 3.7 million Total Viewers last night, making it cable’s number one miniseries premiere of 2014. Houdini, which follows the epic tales of the master escape artist as he emerges as the world’s first bonafide superstar, also averaged averaged 1.5 million Adults 25-54 viewers and 1.2 million Adults 18-49 viewers in its 9:00pm time period, according to Nielsen Fast Cable Ratings.

At History.com, Houdini ranks as the site's best scripted premiere of 2014 for visits, and top three of all time, trailing only The Bible and Hatfields & McCoys (source: Adobe Analytics).

Houdini will conclude this evening at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

From humble beginnings at circus sideshows to sold-out concert halls, Eastern European immigrant Ehrich Weiss rose to become a household name across the globe – Houdini. Brody stars as The Great Harry Houdini as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualists, and encounters the greatest names of the era, from U.S. presidents to Arthur Conan Doyle and Rasputin. A thrilling ride throughout Harry’s psyche, HOUDINI delves deep behind the curtain into his life through his stunts, his visions, and his mastery of illusion.

Joining Brody is Kristen Connolly as Bess Houdini, the love of Harry's life and right hand when it came to some of his most amazing feats, and Evan Jones as Jim Collins, Harry’s assistant and confidant.

Houdini is a Lionsgate/A+E Studios Co-Production. Gerald W. Abrams (Nuremberg, Family of Spies) and Andras Hamori (Sunshine) serve as executive producers of Houdini. Academy Award nominated Nicholas Meyer (The Seven-Per-Cent Solution) is writer and Academy Award nominated director Uli Edel (The Baader Meinhof Complex, Hotel Adlon) helms Houdini.

Academy Award winning veteran Patrizia von Brandenstein (Amadeus) is production designer and Karl Walter Lindenlaub, whose work ranges from American blockbusters (Independence Day) to award-winning art house movies (Black Book) is cinematographer.

Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs are Executives in Charge of Production for History.

History Channel Event Series 'Texas Rising' Premieres Memorial Day 2015

History's eight-hour television event series Texas Rising will premiere Memorial Day 2015, it was announced today by Dirk Hoogstra, Executive Vice President and General Manager, History & H2. The series will detail the Texas Revolution and the rise of the legendary Texas Rangers.

"We're ecstatic with what we've seen so far from production," said Hoogstra, "I can't think of a better way to kick off summer than with a big television event that's sure to resonate with our fans."

Texas Rising is produced by A+E Studios and ITV Studios America in association with Thinkfactory Media for History. Leslie Greif (Hatfields & McCoys) is executive producer. Two-time Oscar-nominated director Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields) is directing with an all-star cast including: Bill Paxton, Brendan Fraser, Ray Liotta, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olivier Martinez, Thomas Jane, Crispin Glover, Rhys Coiro, Jeremy Davies, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Christopher McDonald, Max Thieriot, Chad Michael Murray, Robert Knepper, Jeff Fahey, Rob Morrow and Kris Kristofferson.

History Channel Six-Hour Scripted Miniseries 'Sons of Liberty' Will Star Ben Barnes, Ryan Eggold, Michael Raymond James, Rafe Spall

History has ordered its latest scripted miniseries Sons of Liberty from A+E Studios and Stephen David Entertainment (The Men Who Built America, The World Wars); it was announced today by Dirk Hoogstra, Executive Vice President and General Manager, History & H2. The six-part miniseries, starting production this summer, follows a defiant and radical group of young men – Sam Adams, John Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock and Joseph Warren – as they band together in secrecy to change the course of history and make America a nation.

The stellar cast includes: Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia) as Sam Adams, a natural born leader with charisma and a penchant for mischief; Ryan Eggold (The Black List) as Joseph Warren, a doctor and man of conscience and integrity; Michael Raymond James (Jack Reacher, Terriers, True Blood) as Paul Revere, a veteran who wholeheartedly joins forces with Sam Adams; Rafe Spall (Prometheus, Life of Pi) as John Hancock, the wealthiest man in Boston at the time; and Henry Thomas (E.T. The Extraterrestrial, Gangs of New York, Legends of the Fall) as John Adams, a lawyer and the conservative, smart cousin of Sam Adams.