"ARMAGEDDON," STARRING BRUCE WILLIS, BEN AFFLECK, LIV TYLER, BILLY BOB THORNTON AND STEVE BUSCEMI, WILL AIR AS THE "ABC SATURDAY MOVIE OF THE WEEK," SEPTEMBER 17

Film Airs in HDTV Format with 5.1-Channel Surround Sound and Video Description

"Armageddon," a non-stop and action-packed sci-fi thriller starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton and Steve Buscemi, airs as the "ABC Saturday Movie of the Week," with 5.1-Channel Surround Sound and video description, SEPTEMBER 17 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 4/30/01)

After New York City experiences a "minor" but devastating asteroid shower, the Earth is in for a real shock, as a Texas-sized asteroid hurtles toward the planet for a collision that would kill every living thing - plant and animal. The world's leading deep-core oil driller, Harry Stamper (Willis, "Hostage," "Hart's War"), is called on to lead two teams on an emergency shuttle mission that will fly to the asteroid to plant a nuclear device at its core. Directing NASA's last-ditch effort is Dan Truman (Thornton, "Bad Santa," "Monster's Ball").

Stamper's daughter, Grace (Tyler, "Lonesome Jim," "Lord of the Rings" films), must stay behind as her father and the man she loves (Affleck, "Jersey Girl," "Daredevil") embark on their desperate mission to save mankind.

Starring are Bruce Willis as Harry S. Stamper, Ben Affleck as A.J. Frost, Live Tyler as Grace Stamper, Billy Bob Thornton as Dan Truman, Steve Buscemi ("Spy Kids 2 and 3," "Fargo") as Rockhound, Will Patton (TV's "Into the West," "Remember the Titans") as Charles "Chick" Chapple, William Fichtner ("ABC's "Invasion," "Black Hawk Down") as Colonel William Sharp, Owen Wilson ("Wedding Crashers," "Meet the Fockers") as Oscar Choi, Michael Clarke Duncan ("The Island," "The Green Mile") as Jayotis "Bear" Kurleenbear, Peter Stormare ("Prison Break," "Chocolat") as Lev Andropov, Ken Hudson Campbell ("Boat Trip," "Breakfast of Champions") as Max Lennert and Jessica Steen as Co-Pilot Jennifer Watts.

The 1998 film was directed by Michael Bay ("The Island," "Pearl Harbor"). The screenplay was written by Jonathan Hensleigh ("The Saint," "Jumanji") and Jeffrey (J.J.) Abrams (ABC's "Lost" & "Alias," "Regarding Henry"), from a story by Hensleigh and Robert Roy Pool ("Outbreak"). The movie is a production of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Touchstone Pictures and Valhalla Motion Pictures. (CLOSED-CAPTIONED)

This film carries a TV-14, L,V parental guideline. Due to sensitivities surrounding current events and some violent content, viewer discretion is advised.

"ARMAGEDDON" IN HDTV:
The ABC Television Network's HDTV broadcast of "Armageddon" will air in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-Channel Surround Sound and video description.