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‘Dig’ on USA: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

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USA Network’s upcoming limited series Dig chose to film in the holy city of Jerusalem for its conspiracy-fueled story. Unfortunately, the outbreak of fighting in the area has kept the show on a prolonged hiatus while the cast and crew wait to shoot the last five episodes.

Stars Jason Isaac, Anne Heche and executive producer Gideon Raff will attempt to broadcast live from their Israel location to bring San Diego Comic-Con fans behind-the-scenes of their murder mystery series that leads to a 2,000-year-old global conspiracy.

Follow along with the panel on Dig‘s Twitter account.

Find out whether production on the series will remain in the war-torn region.

1. A Murdered Archeologist Leads to a Larger Conspiracy

dig, jason isaacs, usa network, pilot

(Ronen Akerman/USA Network)

FBI agent Peter Connelly’s (Isaac) investigation into a young American archeologist’s murder uncovers a much larger conspiracy “2000 years in the making.” Connelly, an agent based in Jerusalem, will have to battle his boss and sometimes lover Lynnn Monahan (Heche) and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Ruth Ridell, in his pursuit of a killer and the answer to a mystery as old as Jesus Christ.

2. The Story Will Be Contained to One Season

dig, jason isaacs, ori pfeffer, richard e grant, usa network, pilot

(Ronen Akerman/USA Network)

Dig will wrap up the story in its six episodes scheduled, but the characters could return for a new mystery in another location if the first season does well, executive producer Tim Kring told TV writers on July 14. Although USA Network is touting the show as a “limited event series,” the cast and crew have discussed new locales for future installments. Isaacs wants Hawaii.

3. ‘Dig’ Pulled Production Out of Israel

dig, usa network, jerusalem, israel

(AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Due to the escalation of violence in Israel, Dig has pulled production out the country. The show had to extend their planned hiatus when the conflict between Israel and Gaza reignited.

USA Network released a statement about where production will continue next:

Given the current situation and after careful consideration, we are relocating the production of Dig partly to Albuquerque and are continuing to explore other locations. Our experience filming in Israel was very positive and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to capture such an authentic landscape that will be threaded throughout the series.

Raff had expressed earlier his hope of remaining in Jerusalem to TV writers on July 14, three days before the Israeli military began a ground assault on July 17:

Hopefully everything will calm down and we’ll go back to what we planned and if not, we’ll sort it out. I was born and raised in Jerusalem… our hearts go out to everyone in Israel and Gaza right now and hopefully it’ll be resolved very soon.

The FX series Tyrant moved their production to Turkey after filming became too difficult at their studios near Tel Aviv. It will finish filming the final two episodes there, showrunner Howard Gordon announced on July 21. Both shows are relying on Israel’s Keshet Productions for “guidance in determining how to proceed,” according to TVGuide.com.

4. Critics Are Comparing ‘Dig’ to ‘The Da Vinci Code’

The short clip of Dig shown to TV critics reminded some of the 2006 film The Da Vinci Code, based on the Dan Brown novel. Raff agrees with the comparison, he told TV writers:

Putting a ‘Da Vinci Code’-type psychological, archeological thriller in that city gives us a lot of possibilities.

Jeff Wachtel, chief content officer for NBCUniversal’s cable networks, compared the series to another well-known archeological thriller when he announced the deal to make the “most expensive and ambitious drama” ever by USA Network, according to The New York Times:

It has a kind of Indiana Jones meets ‘The Da Vinci Code’ vibe.

5. Jason Isaacs and Anne Heche Will Join Comic-Con Panel Via Satellite

jason isaacs, dig, anne heche, usa network, pilot

(Ronen Akerman/USA Network)

Isaacs, Heche and Raff will join Dig‘s Comic-Con panel via satellite while filming on location in Jerusalem (if they haven’t moved before then). Kring, director SJ Clarkson and co-stars Lauren Ambrose and Alison Sudol round out the Thursday panel that will debut an exclusive preview from the upcoming series.

Attendees will also learn how they “can #DigDeeper into the action” before Dig premieres this fall, according to the Comic-Con schedule. The panel will take place on Thursday, July 24 at 11:30 a.m. in the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel.

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‘Dig’ on USA: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

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