CRACKLE IN DEVELOPMENT ON "THE BUTCHER," ORIGINAL CONTEMPORARY DRAMA WITH A SURPRISING SUPERNATURAL TWIST, PRODUCED BY AWARD-WINNING DUO DOUGLAS URBANSKI AND GARY OLDMAN

Written by Charles Burmeister, Original Series Explores the Life of a Hardened Homicide Detective on the Trail of a Serial Killer Who Lives Among Us

Pasadena, CA, January 14, 2018 - Crackle, Sony Pictures Television Networks' free ad-supported streaming network, today announced plans to partner with award-winning producers Douglas Urbanski and Gary Oldman of Flying Studio Pictures on the original drama, "The Butcher." The details were shared today at the bi-annual gathering of television critics in Pasadena.

Written by Charles Burmeister (Columbus Day), "The Butcher" is a modern story of one man's epic investigation to find, hunt down, and kill a serial killer who lives among us - someone who is very human, but also beyond human. Along the way, the story's hero, a hardened Los Angeles homicide detective named Mitch Dixon, must uncover the mystery of who The Butcher is, how he operates, and come to terms with the unbelievable truth - that he has discovered the key to immortality, the price of which is consuming human flesh.

In a joint statement, Urbanski and Oldman said: "We are incredibly pleased to be working with the wonderful creative team at Crackle on this unusual, and hopefully gripping and creepy show as part of our effort to expand our creative energies beyond motion pictures and into the land of streaming television. 'The Butcher' marks our first step in bringing entertainment directly into our homes and we could not be happier with the collaboration."

Eric Berger, GM of Crackle and CDO, Sony Pictures Television Networks, added: "Viewers are obsessed with the supernatural and we see an opportunity, in partnership with Gary, Douglas and Charles, to introduce fans to a new kind of narrative around the genre. It's a privilege to work with some of the best in the business and we look forward to working closely with such an incredibly talented team in the months ahead."

The two also recently partnered on a series of vampire novels from Simon & Schuster/Atria.

Oldman and Urbanski are represented by APA's Kyle Loftus and Jim Osborne, and Nigel Pearson at the law firm Loeb & Loeb. Charles Burmeister is represented by APA and the law firm Jacobson, Russell, Saltz, & Fingerman LLP.

About Flying Studio Pictures

Flying Studio Pictures is the producing banner of Urbanski and Oldman who have been collaborating for decades, most recently on the critically-acclaimed film, Darkest Hour, in which Oldman won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Winston Churchill. He and his longtime partner, Urbanski, who will both executive produce "The Butcher," have joined forces on a number of critically acclaimed projects including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Oldman was nominated for an Oscar in 2011 for his role in the film and is well-known for portraying Sirius Black in the Harry Potter film franchise, Commissioner James Gordon in Christopher Nolan's Batman movie trilogy and for his starring role in Bram Stoker's Dracula. As one of the generations most acclaimed and well-known actors, the Academy Award(R) nominated, and BAFTA(R) winning actor has had a career in some of the most successful films of all time, playing some of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. As a force of cinema nature, his career in films is like no other, the staggering film resume includes - in addition to the Potter series and Batman trilogy-- "JFK," "Dracula," "True Romance," "Sid and Nancy," "The Professional," "Immortal Beloved," "The Fifth Element," "Air Force One," "The Contender,", "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", and the recent acclaimed "Darkest Hour". Award winning producer Douglas Urbanski was for many years one of the most active producers on the Broadway and London stage, in addition to having produced/exec produced two films that have received the BAFTA for Best British Film; he also produced the Golden Globe winning film "Darkest Hour", which has also received 9 BAFTA nominations in the current Awards Season.