Starz Preps New Original Drama

BURBANK/ENGLEWOOD,
October 27: Production is set to begin in early 2009 on Spartacus, a new original drama produced by Starz Media with executive producers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert
and Joshua Donen.

The 13×1-hour series will
provide a new twist on the ancient legend using virtual environments to create
the look and style of a graphic novel. Steven S. DeKnight (Smallville, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer) signed on as head writer and showrunner for the series, which was
developed by Raimi (The Spider-Man
franchise, Evil Dead), Tapert (The Grudge, Xena: Warrior Princess) and Donen (The Quick and the Dead).

"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," said Stephan Shelanski,
the executive VP of programming for Starz Entertainment. "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 commented.

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 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.

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski