[B5JMS] Official Jeremiah/jms Press Release

[b5jms-admin at cs.columbia.edu]

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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Date: 29 Jul 2001 22:46:33 GMT
Lines: 92

Don't know if this has been posted elsewhere, but here's the official release
on the new series I'm doing for Showtime.

jms

New MGM Sci-Fi Series JEREMIAH Coming to SHOWTIME in 2002; Luke Perry and
Malcolm-Jamal Warner to Star
 
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) - Showtime Networks has greenlit its
latest series from MGM, a new Sci-Fi series, JEREMIAH, starring Luke Perry
("Beverly Hills, 90210") and Malcolm-Jamal Warner ("Malcolm & Eddie"), it was
announced by Hank Cohen, President of MGM Television Entertainment. Created for
television by sci-fi icon J. Michael Straczynski (Creator & Executive Producer
of "Babylon 5"), JEREMIAH is based on Platinum Studios' award-winning graphic
novel series by Belgian author Hermann Huppen.

In his long anticipated return to series television, Perry will play the lead
role of Jeremiah. Warner, formerly of the critically acclaimed "Cosby Show"
also makes his return to series television.

Stated Cohen, "We're thrilled to bring together such a powerful talent roster
that expands our strength as a leading provider of quality Sci-Fi programming."

Based on a European comic book, whose characters have achieved cult status in
the U.S and Europe, the 20-episode series is slated to debut in early 2002.
JEREMIAH is being produced by Jeremiah Productions Inc. in association with
Lion's Gate Television and Platinum Studios and will be distributed by MGM
Worldwide Television Distribution. This new series marks a continuing
partnership between MGM and SHOWTIME on such highly successful sci-fi series as
"Stargate SG-1" and "The Outer Limits," as well as the much anticipated "Leap
Years" which debuts on July 29th on SHOWTIME.

Straczynski will serve as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Sam
Egan, who has produced and written for "The Outer Limits" and "Northern
Exposure." Russell Mulcahy (SHOWTIME's "Queer As Folk") will direct the
two-hour premiere. The executive producers also include Luke Perry, Joe Dante
("Small Soldiers," "Innerspace," "The Howling," "The Burbs," "Twilight Zone:
The Movie"), Michael Finnell ("Teaching Mrs. Tingle," "Small Soldiers,"
"Twilight Zone: The Movie," "The Howling"), Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, who
developed the hit film "Men In Black," Ervin Rustemagic and Gregory Noveck, who
are both co-producing several upcoming live-action features for Platinum
Studios with Rosenberg. The creative executives for Showtime are John Vasey and
Randy Runkle. For MGM the creative executive is Craig Roessler.

JEREMIAH is set in a future post-apocalyptic world where, almost a decade
before, a deadly virus wiped out the world's adult population sparing only
those who haven't reached puberty. Now in their 20s, the oldest survivors of
the pandemic include Jeremiah and the colorful but cynical Kurdy. Jeremiah is
on a personal quest to relocate a mysterious place called Valhalla, which his
father claimed might hold some hope for the survivors. As Jeremiah falls into a
reluctant partnership with Kurdy, both explore new areas and encounter other
groups of young adults who are divided into rival social groups. In the course
of the season opener, Jeremiah's smaller personal quest is redirected when he
discovers a group of highly organized survivors who want to enlist him to
orchestrate peace among the warring factions and to try and prevent the killer
virus from returning.

MGM Television Entertainment handles television development and production for
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (NYSE:MGM). Its series lineup includes the forthcoming
"Leap Years," slated to debut in July, "Stargate SG-1," "The Outer Limits," and
"Poltergeist: The Legacy," as well as original made-for-television movies such
as the upcoming "Oooph!," starring Paul Reiser, Joe Mantegna, and Christine
Lahti and "In The Time Of The Butterflies," with Salma Hayek and Edward James
Olmos.

Platinum Studios, home to a growing library of over 1,000 international and
domestic comic book characters, is an entertainment and production company
focusing on comic book-to-film adaptations. The company was recently formed by
Scott Mitchell Rosenberg following a successful high-profile career in the
comic book industry as head and founder of Malibu Comics, which was bought by
Marvel Comics. During his Malibu Comics tenure, Rosenberg discovered and
published the property "Men In Black," which he then developed for feature film
and television. The feature grossed nearly $600 million worldwide for Columbia,
with "MIB2" now in production. Platinum has a slate of live action feature film
projects, which Rosenberg will produce along with video game tie-ins and
soundtracks, at many studios including DreamWorks, Miramax/Dimension and New
Line. The company is represented by the William Morris Agency and Ovitz's
Artists Management Group.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom
Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and
FLIX, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME TOO, SHOWTIME SHOWCASE,
SHOWTIME EXTREME, SHOWTIME BEYOND, SHOWTIME NEXT, SHOWTIME WOMEN, SHOWTIME
FAMILYZONE and TMC xtra. SNI operates and manages the premium television
network SUNDANCE CHANNEL, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal
Studios. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for
exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SET (Showtime Event
Television) Pay Per View. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television
network SHOWTIME EXTREME is available in Spain through a joint venture with
Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network. SHOWTIME is
available in Turkey through a joint venture with U.K.-based Zone Vision.