NBC INTRODUCES "THE BLACK DONNELLYS," GRITTY NEW CRIME SERIAL FROM EMMY WINNER AND OSCAR NOMINEE PAUL HAGGIS, FOR FALL 2006-07

BURBANK, Calif. -- January 22, 2006 -- "The Black Donnellys" -- NBC's highly anticipated, gritty new crime serial from Emmy Award and Oscar nominee Paul Haggis ("Million Dollar Baby," "Crash") -- will join the network's new Fall schedule for 2006-07, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"We feel we have a head start into Fall with Paul Haggis' 'The Black Donnellys' on our side and already locked into place," said Reilly. "This is a high-intensity show that bears its own creative stamp and points to the dramatic direction that NBC is headed."

"The Black Donnellys" will be shot entirely in New York.

Paul Haggis co-wrote "The Black Donnellys" with Bobby Moresco and also directed the pilot. Haggis received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay of the Oscar winning film "Million Dollar Baby" and co-wrote (with Bobby Moresco) and directed the critically acclaimed film "Crash." He is also a two-time Emmy winner for "Thirtysomething." The series concerns the exploits of four young Irish brothers and their involvement in organized crime in New York's notorious Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. The handsome brothers fight for love yet cannot escape sinking deeper into the criminal underworld in this contemporary story of the Donnellys.

The ensemble cast includes Kirk Acevedo ("Band of Brothers," "Law & Order: Trial by Jury"), Tom Guiry ("Mystic River," 'Black Hawk Down"), Billy Lush ("Huff," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"), Keith Nobbs (NBC's "Law & Order," "Phone Booth"), Michael Stahl-David ("Uncle Nino"), Jonathan Tucker ("The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "The Deep End") and Olivia Wilde ("The O.C."). Haggis is the creator and executive producer along with fellow executive producer Bobby Moresco.

The series is a production of NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Blackfriars Bridge Productions.