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PRODUCTION BEGINS ON SCI FI CHANNEL'S NEW ORIGINAL SERIES 'THE DRESDEN FILES' SLATED FOR JANUARY '07 PREMIERE
Veteran Actor Terrence Mann Joins Cast of Series from Lionsgate
NEW YORK - November 9, 2006 - 'The Dresden Files,' SCI FI Channel's new 12-episode supernatural detective series starring Paul Blackthorne ('24,' 'Deadwood'), has begun production in Toronto for a January '07 premiere. Joining the cast of the Lionsgate-produced drama is venerable stage and screen actor Terrence Mann in the role of Harry Dresden's trusted confidant, "Bob." Mann originated the Broadway roles of Inspector Javert in 'Les Miserables,' the Beast in 'Beauty and the Beast,' and Rum Tug Tugger in 'Cats.' His recent television credits include 'Law and Order,' 'Love Monkey' and 'Guiding Light.' His film appearances include 'A Chorus Line,' 'Big Top Pee Wee' and the 'Critters' franchise.
Paul Blackthorne, best known for his acclaimed performance as the villainous Stephen Saunders on '24,' also starred in 'Presidio Med' and the feature film 'Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India.' He has guest starred on 'Medium,' 'ER' and 'Deadwood.' 'The Dresden Files' also stars Valerie Cruz as Lieutenant Murphy and Conrad Coats as Morgan.
Based on the best-selling series of novels by Jim Butcher, 'The Dresden Files' tells the story of Harry Dresden (Blackthorne), a Chicago-based private detective with extraordinary abilities. Where others see typical crimes of assault, kidnapping and murder, Harry sees otherworldly forces at work. Dresden may be a wizard, the only wizard listed in the Chicago yellow pages, but he's also a human being. Whether consulting for the police on inexplicable crimes or following his own cases, Dresden does battle with the forces of darkness, always maintaining a wry sense of humor and a unique perspective on our world.
The series is executive produced by David Simkins ('Dark Angel,' 'Charmed') and Robert Wolfe ('The 4400,' 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine') with Nicolas Cage and Norm Golightly of Saturn Films ('The Life of David Gale,' 'Shadow of the Vampire').
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, winning this year's Best Picture Academy Award� for 'CRASH,' generating two consecutive years of $300 million-plus domestic theatrical box office, operating a $500 million-plus home entertainment business and producing a broad slate of prime time television series for fiscal 2007. It is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of more than 10,000 titles is a valuable source of stable, recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.
SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 86 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.
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