Starz Productions and Raimi/Tapert/Donen to Create an All New Action Series
Exclusive to Starz Channels and Additional Platforms
Premium Service Continues Push Into Original Drama and Comedy Series That
Pair With Lineup of Top Hollywood Feature Films
BURBANK, Calif. and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The world
of gladiators comes to life as the Roman Empire's most brutal fighters
clash in the ultimate arena. Starz's new series, "Spartacus," an entirely
new twist on the ancient legend, will utilize virtual environments giving
it a unique graphic novel look and style, along with a fresh narrative
approach. Debuting exclusively on Starz, "Spartacus" will be produced by
Starz Media with Executive Producers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Joshua
Donen. The announcement was made today by Stephan Shelanski, executive vice
president, programming, for Starz Entertainment. It will begin production
in early 2009, debuting on Starz and its suite of channels later in the
year.
This is the second original drama series on Starz, and the first drama
produced in-house by the premium service's studio sibling, headed by
William Hamm, executive vice president, originals productions. Hamm brought
the project to the channel.
Steven S. DeKnight ("Smallville," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") has been
signed as head writer and show-runner of the series, which was developed by
Raimi (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 and Evil Dead), Tapert (The
Grudge, "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys")
and Donen (The Quick and the Dead) and is being produced in New Zealand by
Starz Media's Starz Productions. DeKnight is one of the most sought after
Producer/Director/Writers in television and is currently consulting on Joss
Whedon's "Dollhouse" and tapped to write for the upcoming season eight in
the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book series.
From the talented team responsible for some of the biggest action
feature film hits, and consistently popular action TV series, "Spartacus"
will take the story of the rebellious warrior-slave and re-imagine it for a
generation of TV viewers raised on graphic novels and cutting-edge
production technology. Audiences will get 13 hour-long episodes of
unsparing action, set in the brutal world of gladiators. Because the series
is being produced for Starz -- the fastest-growing premium television
service -- there is no shortage of intense action and vivid, R-rated
storytelling. This will be a TV series with an original narrative and a
very unique look and feel.
"When 'Spartacus' debuts in the summer of 2009, it will give our
subscribers a show unlike anything currently on TV: a fresh, high-energy
action series with nothing held back," Shelanski said. "We think it will be
the destination show for next summer. It, along with our other original
productions underscores our commitment to being a new kind of TV company,
programming the biggest movies and the best new television series."
"By utilizing the latest digital filmmaking techniques to create the
look of this series, we'll be able to tell the story in a way never before
seen with production values far beyond what even the most ambitious TV
series can offer," Tapert said. Raimi added "It is going to be very
exciting to take one of the most beloved and inspiring characters of all
time, re-invent and bring them to life for a whole new generation of TV
viewers."
Starz's new "Spartacus" series was inspired by the actual slave of the
Roman Republic who in 73 BC led a slave revolt that grew to more than
120,000 fighters. Defying the Roman Republic's legions of soldiers, they
campaigned for two years through much of what is now Italy before
succumbing to a much larger army. The new series will tell a new set of
stories rich in character, action, sex and combat.
Starz Media's Anchor Bay Entertainment will hold exclusive worldwide
home entertainment distribution rights to "Spartacus," while the company's
Worldwide Distribution group will handle international television and
domestic syndication sales.
"Spartacus" is just the latest original series for Starz. Its first
dramatic series, "Crash," a co-production from Starz Entertainment and
Lionsgate, premiered Oct. 17. Starz Media will also produce "Party Down"
for Starz, debuting in early 2009, the companies announced recently. These
come on the heels of Starz's original half-hour comedy series, "Head Case,"
which stars Alexandra Wentworth and is currently in production on
additional episodes. Starz also features "Starz Inside," a monthly series
of original specials examining people, trends and culture in entertainment,
hosted by film critic Richard Roeper.
About Starz Media
Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company
operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment,
and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action
programming -- including theatrical films -- and programming created under
contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and
programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers,
theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and
Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally.
Starz Media (http://www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of
Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.
About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating
in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship
Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 17 million and 31.3
million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000
movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services
including Starz HD, Encore HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex
On Demand, Starz HD On Demand, Encore HD On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand,
and Starz Play. Starz Entertainment (http://www.starz.com/) is an operating
unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media
Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Entertainment Group, a tracking
stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.
Contacts:
Jonathan Taylor Chelsye Burrows; Steve Belgard
Starz Media Starz Entertainment
818.748-4032 720.852-5838/5843
Jonathan.Taylor@starz.com Chelsye.Burrows@starz.com;
Steve.belgard@starz.com
SOURCE Starz Entertainment, LLC
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.starz.com
CONTACT:
Jonathan Taylor of Starz Media,
+1-818-748-4032, Jonathan.Taylor@starz.com, or Chelsye Burrows,
+1-720-852-5838, Chelsye.Burrows@starz.com, or Steve Belgard,
+1-720-852-5843, Steve.belgard@starz.com, both of Starz
Entertainment
|
