N.C. film caucus lures sci-fi TV show to Wilmington. Incentive program influenced the decision to film the new NBC series, Fathom, in the state.

Fathom, NBC’s new science-fiction drama, will be produced in North Carolina. It is the creation of filmmakers Josh and Jonas Pate, who were born in Winston-Salem.

The pilot episode, which was filmed earlier this year, was made entirely in California. But NBC Universal Television Studio, which produces Fathom, has decided to film the weekly series in Wilmington.

Fathom involves the discovery of mysterious, intelligent aquatic creatures in Earth’s oceans. The series follows a group of oceanographers, military officials and civilians who encounter these creatures and try to discover whether they are benevolent or if they are invaders from another planet. The cast includes actors Lake Bell (Boston Legal), Jay R. Ferguson (Judging Amy), Rade Serbedzija (Snatch) and Carter Jenkins (Unfabulous).

NBC Universal was drawn to Wilmington after meeting with the N.C. Legislative Film Caucus. “NBC Universal officials acknowledged that the network’s decision to film the series in North Carolina was influenced by the efforts of the caucus and the North Carolina legislature to advance a film-incentive program in the current session,” according to a press release from the caucus.

In addition to creating the series, the Pate brothers will direct, write and act as executive producers on Fathom. They previously created the supernatural comedy-drama GvsE, and were the head writers on the second season of the recent remake L.A. Dragnet.

Fathom will be shown this fall at 8 p.m. on Mondays. Production is scheduled to begin in July.

NBC has ordered 13 episodes. If the show does well in the ratings, it will likely be picked up for nine more episodes for its debut season.

Source: Journal Now
Original Story by: Tim Clodfelter – Journal Reporter