EPIX Greenlights Drama Pilot

NEW YORK/SANTA MONICA: EPIX, the new premium movie service from Viacom, Lionsgate and MGM, has given a greenlight to its first original series pilot, with Weeds creator Jenji Kohan on board as executive producer and show runner.

EPIX, operated by Studio 3 Networks—a joint venture of Viacom and Paramount Pictures, MGM and Lionsgate—is slated to launch on pay-TV platforms in the fall, delivering movies from its parent companies. The pilot for its first original programming attempt, Tough Trade, has been ordered from Lionsgate, with plans to launch the series in 2010. The one-hour drama focuses on a three-generation Nashville music dynasty whose penchant for drink, debauchery and divorce has left them on the verge of bankruptcy. 

Chris Offutt is the creator, writer and co-executive producer of Tough Trade. Executive producing along with Jenji Kohan and Chris Offutt are Sean and Bryan Furst (The Matador, The Cooler). The show was developed by Furst Films, under the company’s first-look deal with Lionsgate TV.

"We are thrilled to be moving forward with the pilot episode of what is expected to be EPIX’s first original series," said Mark Greenberg, the president of Studio 3 Networks. "Lionsgate has an incredible track record of original television series that capture the imagination of viewers and always leaves them wanting more. I have no doubt that Tough Trade is going to build on this incredible creative spirit, driving consumers to EPIX to watch and interact with this program. The team behind this series is one that has changed the entertainment landscape with Weeds, The Cooler, and others and we believe they will do it again with Tough Trade. This is yet another illustration of EPIX’s progress as we near our fourth quarter television launch."

"EPIX is a brand that is going to change the way Americans consume entertainment, making it an ideal candidate for a Lionsgate series," added Kevin Beggs, the president of TV programming and production at Lionsgate. "The music industry has remained untouched in original programming and with this series we are going to take full advantage of the story lines it has to offer. There is no denying that both EPIX and Lionsgate have a unique approach to the entertainment business, and you can say the same for the characters in Tough Trade."