Haven (TV series)
Haven is a supernatural drama television series developed by Jim Dunn and Sam Ernst, loosely based on the Stephen King novel The Colorado Kid. The series, which deals with strange events in a fictional town in Maine named Haven, was filmed on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, and is an American-Canadian co-production. It stars Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant, Nicholas Campbell and Eric Balfour, whose characters struggle to help townspeople with supernatural afflictions and protect the town from the effects of those afflictions.
The series premiered on July 9, 2010, on Syfy, and concluded on December 17, 2015. In August 2015, Syfy canceled the series after five seasons.
Premise
When FBI Special Agent Audrey Parker is dispatched to the small town of Haven, Maine, on a routine case, she finds herself becoming increasingly involved in the return of "The Troubles", a plague of supernatural afflictions that have occurred in the town at least twice before. With an openness to the possibility of the paranormal, she also finds a more personal link in Haven that may lead her to the mother she has never known.Over time, Parker, who eventually quits the FBI to join the Haven Police Department, begins to realize that her arrival in Haven may have been pre-arranged and that her name and even her memories may not be her own. As the series progresses, she learns more about the mysteries of both Haven and her true identity.
She and her partner, police detective Nathan Wuornos, find themselves frequently facing problems caused by both the effects of the Troubles, as well as the activities of town folk who take more drastic measures against those who are Troubled.
Cast and characters
Main
- Emily Rose as Audrey Parker / Sarah Vernon / Lucy Ripley / Mara / Paige
- Lucas Bryant as Nathan Wuornos
- Nicholas Campbell as Garland Wuornos
- Eric Balfour as Duke Crocker
Recurring
- Mary-Colin Chisholm as Eleanor Carr
- Richard Donat as Vince Teagues
- John Dunsworth as Dave Teagues
- Anne Caillon as Jess Minion
- Michelle Monteith as Julia Carr
- Stephen McHattie as Edmund "Ed" Driscoll
- Kathleen Munroe as FBI Agent Audrey Parker
- Jason Priestley as Chris Brody
- Vinessa Antoine as Evidence "Evi" Ryan
- Adam Copeland as Dwight Hendrickson
- Maurice Dean Wint as Agent Byron Howard
- Bree Williamson as Claire Callahan
- Dorian Missick as Tommy Bowen
- Kate Kelton as Jordan McKee
- Steve Lund as James Cogan
- Colin Ferguson as William
- Emma Lahana as Jennifer Mason
- Christian Camargo as Wade Crocker
- Jayne Eastwood as Gloria Verrano
- Robert Maillet as Heavy
- Kris Lemche as Seth Byrne
- Laura Mennell as Charlotte Cross
- Paul Braunstein as Mitchell
- Christian as McHugh
- William Shatner as Croatoan
- Rossif Sutherland as Henry
- Tamara Duarte as Hailie Colton
Development and production
Haven was originally developed for ABC Television in 2007 by writers Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn, with production company Piller Segan.In September 2009, E1 Entertainment announced it was working with Stephen King to develop a television series based on his novel The Colorado Kid. The entertainment company ordered the concept straight to series, with thirteen episodes planned. In November, Syfy announced it had acquired the series.
Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn wrote the pilot episode. According to Ernst, the original idea had no supernatural involvement, which prompted Stephen King to ask "Where's the supernatural element?" after he read their notes. In February 2010, Emily Rose was cast in the lead role of Audrey Parker. Eric Balfour and Lucas Bryant came on board in late March. Canadian broadcaster Canwest Global Communications acquired rights to the series in March as well.
In April 2010, Adam Kane signed on to direct the pilot. Production began April 20 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and surrounding areas. Filming occurred primarily in Chester, Nova Scotia and throughout the South Shore of the province, including Lunenburg, Halifax, and Mahone Bay.
The promo of the series premiere features the song Short Change Hero by The Heavy.
The series premiere, "Welcome to Haven", aired on Syfy in the U.S. on July 9, 2010, and on Showcase in Canada on July 12. The show became available to other international markets in October 2010.