NBC

“Taken” star Clive Standen says that despite it’s blockbuster origins, his new NBC series will be different than other big-budget action franchises.

“We’ve got nothing compared to those $100 million action movies,” Standen said at the Television Critics Association press tour on Wednesday. “A lot of the action movies out there are all sound and fury signifying nothing. I don’t connect with big explosions and backflips and things. It has to be driven by heart, and it has to be driven by character.”

The show, executive produced by Alex Cary and Matt Gross, serves as a pseudo-prequel to the Liam Neeson film series, but set in present day. The executive producers describe the show as a “modern day origin story.”

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“We were never talking about a prequel, we were talking about a modern origin story,” Cary said. “What we wanted to do was to bring the franchise, the unique selling point of the ‘Taken’ to the television screens, but do our own unique story.”

Luc Besson, the writer of the original “Taken” trilogy, also serves as executive producer on the NBC drama, which Gross said was an attempt by the writer to have more involvement in TV adaptations of his work following the CW’s “Nikita” and the short-lived Canadian adaptation of “Transporter.”

“He has steered us in a direction that I think will be loyal and faithful to his original vision in the movies, but he has not limited himself in a way,” Cary said.

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“I feel like in a way we’re going backwards,” said Jennifer Beals, who plays the mentor to Standen’s character, a new role invented for the show. “We get a chance to watch the planting of the seed and watch the plant grow. In this case, it’s not just an effort to take advantage of a story that’s already popular.”

“It’s not just about [how he learned] his unique set of skills, it’s how he became who he is,” Gross said. “It’s really understanding him as a character.”

14 Underrated TV Shows You Should Watch Right Now (Photos)

Sure, there's great television out there like "Scandal" and "American Horror Story" that everyone and their mother watches, but there are quite a few other wonderful programs that don't get enough credit. So if you've run out of shows to binge watch, don't worry we've got you covered.
"Catastrophe"
"Catastrophe" is a British sitcom starring Carrie Fisher and sometimes her dog, Gary. That's all you need to know.

Channel 4
"Better Things"
This FX series was created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K. so you already know it'll at least be funny if nothing else.

It follows a divorced actress who raises her three daughters by herself while attempting to work in Hollywood.
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"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" follows Rebecca Bunch, an Ivy League lawyer who decides to ditch becoming partner at a top New York law firm to follow her first love from Summer camp to California in search for happiness.

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"You're the Worst"
This smart comedy, again from FX, follows two destructive and toxic people (Jimmy, a self-involved British writer, and Gretchen, a self-destructive Los Angeles PR executive) attempting a relationship. Yep, it gets messy.

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"The Mindy Project"
"The Mindy Project" follows quirky obgyn Mindy Lahiri as she navigates her personal and professional life.
Hulu
"Orphan Black"
One reason and one reason only: Tatiana Maslany plays at least 10 different characters (clones) in this Canadian sci-fi thriller. If that isn't incredible, we don't know what is.
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"Jane the Virgin"
A loose adaptation of a Venezuelan telenovela, The CW's "Jane the Virgin" follows a devout religious woman Jane -- who's a virgin but accidentally becomes pregnant.

She becomes accidentally artificially inseminated by her doctor when she goes in for a check-up.
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"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
The FXX sitcom -- now entreating its 12th season -- follows "The Gang," a group of five individuals who run an Irish pub and have no problem dumping on each other for their own personal gain.
FX
"American Crime"
ABC's "American Crime" is a crime drama anthology series. The first season focused on race, class and gender politics, the second on a school shooting, but the core crime for Season 3 remains a tightly-held secret.
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"Fleabag"
"Fleabag" is a six part comedy series based on a one-woman play about a woman (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) living in a big city while coping with a recent tragedy.
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"Ghost Adventures"
The Travel Channel's documentary-style series "Ghost Adventures" follows Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley as they investigate some of the world's most haunted places.
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"Mozart in the Jungle"
A young, talented and charismatic conductor, Rodrigo (Gael García Bernal), is announced for the New York Symphony. Conflict begins to arise as Rodrigo promises to change how things are done. The comedy series bagged Amazon Studios its first two Golden Globe awards in 2016.

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"Steven Universe"
"Steven Universe" is an animated series that follows the coming of age story of a boy named -- of course -- Steven Universe, who lives in a fictional town named Beach City.

Cartoon Network
"Trailer Park Boys"
This Canadian mockumentary series follows the exploits of trailer park residents -- some of whom are ex-convicts. It is available on Netflix so you can binge-watch their misadventures for endless viewing pleasure.
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From “Catastrophe” and “You’re the Worst” to “Trailer Park Boys,” these gems need to be added to your must-view list

Sure, there's great television out there like "Scandal" and "American Horror Story" that everyone and their mother watches, but there are quite a few other wonderful programs that don't get enough credit. So if you've run out of shows to binge watch, don't worry we've got you covered.

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