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Spike TV Green Lights 'Blade' for Series
New Line Television to Produce Series Based on Popular Marvel Super Hero;
Production Set to Begin This Spring in Vancouver
Series to Premiere in June 2006
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 -- Spike TV has given the green-light
for a television series based on Marvel Super Hero "Blade" as the network's
first original scripted series. The network has ordered 11 one-hour episodes,
in addition to the previously announced two-hour kick-off episode, to be
produced by New Line Television, set to commence production in Vancouver this
spring. "Blade" premieres in June 2006.
"We're extremely pleased with the pilot for 'Blade,' which delivers a
thrilling action-adventure for its built-in fan base as well as a character-
driven drama filled with heart-pounding tension and suspense," says Pancho
Mansfield, Executive Vice President, Original Programming at Spike TV. "The
series will be the first of our scripted fare as we embark on creating a
greater mix of original programming for our viewers."
"Blade" focuses on Marvel's eponymous immortal warrior fighting a shadowy
underworld of vampires who want to destroy the human race. The title
character is a half-man, half-vampire who uses his superhuman powers and
skills to fearlessly battle the demonic creatures of the night in a blood-
drenched crusade to prevent the ascendance of vampires over mankind.
The Spike TV weekly series will maintain continuity from the highly
successful movie trilogy but will bring the main character into a new
storyline with new characters.
Kirk "Sticky" Jones ("Over There") stars in the leading role of "Blade."
Kirk Jones first became widely known as "Sticky Fingaz," the front man for the
hip-hop group Onyx. He later appeared and starred in a number of feature
films including Clockers, Dead Presidents and Flight of the Phoenix. Most
recently, Jones appeared regularly on FX's "Over There" and "The Shield."
Rounding out the series cast are Jill Wagner ("Monk"), Neil Jackson ("Stargate
SG-1"), Nelson Lee ("Traffic," the TV mini-series) and Jessica Gower
("Blurred").
Acclaimed screenwriter and executive producer David S. Goyer ("Blade"
trilogy and "Batman Begins") and popular comic book writer Geoff Johns who
worked on the "Blade" tele-movie, have also signed on for the series
production. The tele-movie is directed by Peter O'Fallon ("Suicide Kings,"
"American Gothic").
Bill McGoldrick, Vice President, Original Programming and Lisa Ullmann,
Director of Original Programming, are executives responsible for production at
Spike TV. Avi Arad, Chairman and CEO of Marvel Studios, Ari Arad, Executive
Vice President, Marvel Studios, Jim Rosenthal and Jon Kroll of New Line
Television will serve as executive producers.
New Line Television is a division of New Line Cinema (http://www.newline.com),
the most successful independent film company in the world. The division
develops, produces and distributes TV projects for the broadcast networks,
cable and first-run syndication, as well as distributes New Line feature films
across the television landscape. In addition to the production, marketing and
distribution of theatrical motion pictures, New Line Cinema has divisions
devoted to home entertainment, music, theater, merchandising and
international. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New Line's Oscar-winning
"The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is one of the most successful film franchises
in history. New Line is a division of Time Warner, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one
of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies.
Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in
licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include
feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures
and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative
success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to
leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around
the world. More information about Marvel can be found at http://www.marvel.com.
Super Hero(es) is a co-owned registered trademark. Marvel and Blade are
trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. and are used under license.
SOURCE Spike TV
Web Site: http://www.spiketv.com http://www.marvel.com
http://www.newline.com
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