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[07/12/11 - 02:43 PM]
Juliette Lewis and Callum Keith Rennie Tapped for eOne's New Legal Drama "The Firm," Based on the Feature Film and Bestseller by World-Renowned Novelist John Grisham
Plus: David Straiton tapped to direct the pilot while Helen Shaver joins as a producer/director.

[via press release from NBC]

JULIETTE LEWIS AND CALLUM KEITH RENNIE TAPPED FOR EONE'S NEW LEGAL DRAMA "THE FIRM," BASED ON THE FEATURE FILM AND BESTSELLER BY WORLD-RENOWNED NOVELIST JOHN GRISHAM

David Straiton ("House," "Fringe") to Direct the Pilot

Helen Shaver ("Judging Amy," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") Joins as Producer/ Director

Production Starts in Toronto this August

'The Firm' Set to Premiere on NBC, Global and AXN in Mid-season

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif./TORONTO - July 12, 2011 -- Entertainment One (eOne), Sony Pictures Television Networks, NBC and Global are proud to announce that Juliette Lewis ("Natural Born Killers," "Cape Fear") and Callum Keith Rennie ("The Killing," "Californication") are signed on to star in the new legal drama series "The Firm," based on John Grisham's best-selling novel and executive-produced by Grisham and Lukas Reiter. Lewis and Rennie join Josh Lucas ("The Lincoln Lawyer," "Sweet Home Alabama") who was previously announced to star as attorney Mitchell McDeere (the role originated by Tom Cruise in the film). David Straiton ("House," "Fringe") is confirmed to direct the pilot episode which will commence production in Toronto this August. Helen Shaver ("Judging Amy," NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") has also joined the series as a producer and will direct multiple episodes.

Lewis, am Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominated actress, will play Tammy, Mitch's feisty, sexy receptionist, whose work life is made all the more tumultuous by her on-again, off-again relationship with Mitch's brother, Ray. With a personality as arresting as her ever-changing hair color, Tammy is leery when Mitch accepts a deal to partner with a top law practice, as she's not cut out for the conservative culture of a white shoe firm. Rennie is tapped to play Ray McDeere, Mitch's charming yet volatile older brother whose work as an investigator in Mitch's office is uniquely informed by his past stretch in prison for manslaughter. Despite a "highly un-ambitious" nature that stands in stark contrast to his Harvard-grad brother, Ray shares one key quality with Mitch: a loyalty that is unbreakable.

Based on the blockbuster feature film and the best-selling novel of 1991 by world-renowned author Grisham ("The Pelican Brief," "The Client"), "The Firm" continues the story of attorney Mitchell McDeere (Lucas) who, as a young associate, brought down the prestigious Memphis law firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke, which operated as a front for the Chicago mob. After a difficult decade, McDeere and his family now emerge from isolation to reclaim their lives and their future -- only to find that past dangers are still lurking and new threats are everywhere.

"The Firm" is produced by Entertainment One in association with Sony Pictures Television Networks and Paramount Pictures. The executive producers are Grisham, Lukas Reiter ("Law & Order," "Boston Legal"), John Morayniss ("Haven," "Hung"), Michael Rosenberg ("Hung," "The Riches") and Noreen Halpern ("Rookie Blue," "Call Me Fitz").

The series will be broadcast on AXN networks in more than 125 territories or countries around the globe. eOne Television will retain basic and pay television, broadcast television and digital/DVD rights for the show outside of AXN markets and handle distribution of the series worldwide, including the U.S. and Canada.

ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT ONE

Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company's comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 20,000 film and television titles, 2,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 122 channel feeds, which are available in more than 140 countries reaching almost 438 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and an HD movie channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, a new 3D channel, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

About Shaw Communications Inc.

Global Television is a Shaw Media network. Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, History Television and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

About NBC Entertainment:

NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network's primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC's quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards, and ratings success. NBC has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history.

NBC's roster of popular scripted series includes such critically acclaimed comedies Emmy winners as "The Office" and "30 Rock," starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey.

Veteran, award-winning dramas on NBC include "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Chuck." Unscripted series for NBC include the new vocal competition hit "The Voice" as well as the popular "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice" and "America's Got Talent."

NBC's late-night story is highlighted by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Daytime's "Days of our Lives" consistently finishes among daytime's top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. On Saturday mornings, the network broadcasts Qubo on NBC, a three-hour block that features fun, entertaining, and educational programming for kids, including the award-winning, 3-D animated series Veggie Tales.





  [july 2011]  
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· CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
· FIRM, THE (NBC)
· FRINGE (FOX)
· HOUSE (FOX)
· JUDGING AMY (CBS)
· KILLING, THE (NETFLIX)
· LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC)





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