The River is an upcoming American paranormal/adventure/horror series that will debut during the 2011–12 television season on ABC as a midseason replacement. Eight episodes will be produced for the first season. The series will premiere February 7, 2012.

Synopsis
Famed explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) went looking for magic deep in the uncharted Amazon and never returned. The shocking truth about his disappearance is out there, somewhere, just waiting to be discovered. To the millions of kids who grew up watching his nature show, Dr. Cole was a hero. To his own son, Lincoln (Joe Anderson), he was more of an enigma. Now, six months after he vanished, Lincoln is finally ready to bury the past when Dr. Cole’s emergency beacon suddenly goes off. At the urging of his mother, Tess (Leslie Hope), Lincoln reluctantly joins her on a search for his father. To fund the rescue, they agree to let Dr. Cole’s cagey ex-producer, Clark (Paul Blackthorne), film the mission documentary-style. The mixed crew of old friends and new acquaintances includes the sexy and resourceful Lena (Eloise Mumford), loyal mechanic Emilio (Daniel Zacapa) and lethal bodyguard Captain Kurt Brynildson (Thomas Kretschmann).

Production
Writer-director Oren Peli, along with writer Michael R. Perry, came up with a concept for a television series about a documentary crew searching the Amazon for a beloved nature-explorer and television host.

The project went on to be heavily sought after, and caused a bidding war between NBC and ABC in September 2010, with ABC eventually out-bidding.

In February 2011, ABC ordered the script to pilot, after an extensive re-write by veteran comic book writer Michael Green. On May 13, 2011, ABC ordered the project to series. On May 17, 2011, ABC announced that the show would premiere in the 2011–12 mid-season. The pilot episode was filmed in Puerto Rico, but the rest of the series will be produced in Hawaii.

Cast
Bruce Greenwood as Dr. Emmet Cole, a famed explorer and TV personality
Joe Anderson as Lincoln Cole, Dr. Cole’s son
Paul Blackthorne as Clark, Dr. Cole’s cagey ex-producer
Paulina Gaitan as Jahel
Leslie Hope as Tess Cole, Dr. Cole’s wife and Lincoln’s mother
Eloise Mumford as Lena
Shaun Parkes as Adjay
Thomas Kre