Joel Silver in TV Deal with Lionsgate

SANTA MONICA: Lionsgate has inked a multi-year first-look television deal with producer Joel Silver and his outfit Silver Pictures Television.

Silver, known for feature films like the Lethal Weapon and Matrix franchises, previously worked on the television shows Veronica Mars and Tales from the Crypt, among others. Together with David Eick (Battlestar Galactica) and Rodney Ferrell, Silver will executive produce Bathory, which has a put-pilot commitment from CBS. Set in 1600s Budapest, Bathory is billed as a radical take on vampire mythology following history’s first known female serial killer, Elizabeth Bathory. In addition, FOX has given a put-pilot commitment to Soar, with Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer set to write and executive produce through Silver Pictures Television and Lionsgate Television. 

“Lionsgate has emerged as a major creative force in the global marketplace, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Jon Feltheimer, Kevin Beggs, Sandra Stern and the rest of their management team,” said Silver. “Lionsgate has established a reputation for creating some of the most groundbreaking and memorable television brands in the world, and I look forward to contributing a roster of big, audience-pleasing event properties to their incredible pipeline.”

“Joel has created some of the biggest franchises of all time and established an incredible network of relationships with top writers and other world-class creative talent,” said Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to team with him as he focuses his creative genius on the world of television with the same emphasis on exciting, high-profile branded properties that have been his signature in the film world. We look forward to a great collaboration with Joel, Rodney and the entire Silver Pictures Television team.”