Toronto's Sienna Films (Step) has linked with Philo Films in South Africa on the $12-million miniseries Rough, billed as an epic about the different aspects of the world diamond trade, set to shoot in locations in Manitoba, the U.K. and Johannesburg until mid-December.

The 2 x 90 stars Judy Davis (Marie Antoinette) and British imports James Purefoy (Rome) and Derek Jacobi (Pinochet in Suburbia), working under directors Andy Wilson (Hotel Babylon) and John McKay (Life on Mars).

Sienna's Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny exec produce with Carrie Stein, while Philo Pieterse (Platinum) produces with Liz Jarvis, Phyllis Laing and, from the U.K., Nick Witkowski and Simon Vaughan. Alchemy Television will distribute.

The adventure/drama comes from writer David Vainola and will shoot in Johannesburg and the lush valley region of KwaZulu-Natal, on the South African coast. In Manitoba, it will visit Churchill and Winnipeg.