Production Begins on XIII Mini-Series

November 20, 2007 World Screen

TORONTO, November 20:
Prodigy Pictures and Cipango, in association with Power in the U.K., have begun
principal photography on the action mini-series XIII, which will shoot in Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario
through January 30.

The $20-million four-hour,
two-part mini-series is based on the 1984 Franco-Belgian comic book series of
the same name, written by Jean Van Hamme and drawn by William Vance, which was
later adapted into a video game. The political thriller centers on a young man
with amnesia who is found in the woods, bearing the tattoo of XIII as the only
clue to his past. When he finds out that he is accused of assassinating the
president, the pressure is on for him to discover his true identity and uncover
the real conspirators.

XIII was written by David Wolkove (La Femme Nikita, Relic Hunter) and Philippe Lyon (The Trail, Alive) and directed
by Duane Clark (CSI, Meadowlands). The mini-series stars Stephen Dorff (World
Trade Center, Blade), Val Kilmer (The Saint, Batman), Caterina Murino (Casino Royale, L’Amour aux Trousses),
Jessalyn Gilsig (Nip/Tuck, Heroes) and Stephen McHattie (300, A History of Violence). XIII is a Canada/France co-production, developed and produced by Prodigy
Pictures in association with Power. Prodigy holds the North American
distribution rights for the mini-series, while international distribution
rights are retained by Power.

Prodigy Pictures’ Jay
Firestone, Cipango’s Edouard de Vésinne and Thomas Anargyros and Power’s Justin
Bodle serve as executive producers. Additional production credits include
co-executive producer Peter M. Lenkov, producers Ken Gord and Frédéric Burneel
and associate producers Zenon Yunko and Alexia de Beauvoir.

Bodle, Power's CEO,
commented: "I am delighted that Power, together with our production
partners, is able to bring a story which has already achieved cult status in
other formats to global television screens for the first time, particularly
with such ambition, a stellar cast and a terrific director."

—By Kristin Brzoznowski