Lions Gate Television Announces That Drama Series WILDFIRE Has Been Picked Up for Second Season by ABC Family

Production On 13 New One-Hour Episodes To Begin This Fall

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 25 -- Lions Gate Television, the television production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF; Toronto), announced today that ABC Family has picked up a second season of Lions Gate's original drama series, WILDFIRE. A total of 13 one-hour episodes will be produced for the second season order with production set to begin this fall in New Mexico.

The drama, produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Piller 2 and The Segan Company, centers on the struggles of a young woman, played by newcomer Genevieve Cortese, to turn her life around. The series also stars veteran actor Dennis Weaver ("McCloud"), Greg Serano ("Kingpin"), Nana Visitor ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"), Micah Alberti ("All My Children"), Andrew Hoeft, James Read, Ryan Sypek and Nicole Tubiola.

"ABC Family is a perfect home for this series," said Kevin Beggs, president, programming and production, Lions Gate Television. "We're very proud of the show and appreciate the tremendous support we've received from the network. The second season pickup of WILDFIRE, Lifetime's recent order of six additional episodes for the third season of MISSING and THE DEAD ZONE's ratings strength in its fourth season underscore Lions Gate's ability to create programming with enduring popularity and value."

WILDFIRE has posted impressive ratings for the season to date, with the most recent episode attracting approximately two million viewers and placing among basic cable's top 25 programs in the key 18-49 adult demographic. Lions Gate's crime series MISSING, starring Vivica A. Fox and Catarina Scorsone, recently received an order for six additional episodes in its third season on Lifetime, while Lions Gate's one-hour drama THE DEAD ZONE, starring Anthony Michael Hall, on USA Network is achieving some of the highest ratings in its history, positioning it strongly for second-cycle exploitation.

WILDFIRE follows eighteen-year-old Kris Furillo (Cortese) who, after serving time at a juvenile detention center, is given the opportunity to start a new life. Her talent with horses is recognized by a volunteer and local trainer (Serano), who arranges a job for her at the Ritter's family run ranch.

WILDFIRE is produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Piller 2 and The Segan Company. Michael Piller ("The Dead Zone," "Star Trek: The Next Generation"), Lloyd Segan ("The Dead Zone," "The Bachelor," "Boondock Saints," "Bones") and Marjorie David ("Dark Angel," "Chicago Hope") serve as executive producers.

WILDFIRE is shot in New Mexico, reflecting Lions Gate's cost-efficient strategy of producing programming in states such as New Mexico and Louisiana which provide local and government subsidies and tax incentives.

Lions Gate Entertainment is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of stable and recurring revenue and serves as a foundation for the continued growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

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SOURCE Lions Gate Entertainment
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