UNIVERSAL HD DEBUTS WIDE VARIETY OF FILMS IN MAY

UNIVERSAL HD DEBUTS WIDE VARIETY OF FILMS IN MAY

Englewood Cliffs, NJ (April 26, 2005) ? NBC Universal Cable introduces a variety of new films, presented in stunning HD quality, to Universal HD's lineup this May.

May 1 marks the HD television premiere of director Jonathan Demme's "The Truth About Charlie," a contemporary remake of the 1963 Carey Grant and Audrey Hepburn classic thriller "Charade," with Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton in the lead roles as two people at the heart of a twisty, suspenseful mystery set in a vibrant Paris.

On Mother's Day, May 8, Meryl Streep stars in "The River Wild" as a professional white water river guide whose family's rafting trip becomes a nightmare when two dangerous criminals force her to help them escape down the river. Kevin Bacon gives a menacing performance as one of the criminals.

Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn headline the comedy "Housesitter," premiering in HD on May 21. Hawn stars as Gwen, a feisty waitress who cons herself into the new home, and life, of architect Newton Davis (Martin). Davis initially resists the phony marriage, until he realizes its ironic potential for improving his own love life.

On May 22, the urban thriller "Judgment Night" makes its debut on Universal HD. The suspenseful story deals with four pals who observe a gang murder after taking a wrong turn on their way to a boxing match, and are subsequently hunted down by the killers who don't want to leave any living witnesses. The film stars Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Denis Leary.

"The Frighteners," helmed by Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson, premieres on May 29. The imaginative film, a visually exhilarating ghost story starring Michael J. Fox as a supernatural private detective investigating a series of mysterious deaths in a small town, is equal parts horror flick, black comedy, and special-effects showcase.

Finally, Memorial Day, May 28, will witness the launch of the World War II submarine thriller "U-571." Matthew McConaughey and Bill Paxton lead an all-star cast as American sailors who become stranded on a German submarine after a top-secret mission goes wrong. The film features tense submarine action and thrilling underwater effects.

Universal HD, an NBC Universal Cable network, launched in fourth quarter 2004 is currently available in systems reaching more than 25 million homes in 100% 1080i HD, 24/7. Universal HD offers the best of NBC Universal's library in HD. Programming includes unedited and uninterrupted films, "Backdraft," "Carlito's Way," "Apollo 13" and "The Fast and the Furious;" award-winning series and franchises such as "Monk," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Battlestar Galactica;" performing arts and special events, "Music in High Places" and sports programming including the US Open and the 2004 Summer Olympics.

About NBC Universal Cable
NBC Universal Cable, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's preeminent media companies, drives the company's cable strategic development and growth including video-on-demand, pay-per-view, HDTV and retransmission consent, and oversees the cable distribution, marketing and local ad sales of fourteen properties (Bravo, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, NBC Weather Plus, SCI FI, ShopNBC, Telemundo, Telemundo Puerto Rico, Trio, Universal HD, USA and the Olympics on cable). NBC Universal Cable also directs and manages the company's cable and new media investments including A&E, The History Channel, History Channel International, The Biography Channel, National Geographic International, the Sundance Channel and Tivo.