or


[03/02/10 - 12:03 AM]
Starz and Tandem Communications Set to Unveil Eight-Hour Event Series, Based on Ken Follett's Global Bestseller, 'The Pillars of the Earth'
Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Macfadyen, Donald Sutherland and Alison Pill all star in the project, due this summer.

[via press release from Starz]

Starz and Tandem Communications Set to Unveil Eight-Hour Event Series, Based on Ken Follett's Global Bestseller, 'The Pillars of the Earth'

IAN MCSHANE, RUFUS SEWELL, DONALD SUTHERLAND TOPLINE ALL-STAR CAST FOR EPIC STORY, SET IN 12TH CENTURY ENGLAND; PREMIERING THIS SUMMER AND ONLY ON STARZ IN THE U.S.

MUNICH and LOS ANGELES, March 2 -- Starz Entertainment has acquired U.S. television rights to TANDEM Communications' ground-breaking eight-hour television adaptation of Ken Follett's bestselling novel "The Pillars of the Earth." Starz will air the series, produced by Tandem Communications, MUSE Entertainment and Ridley and Tony Scott's SCOTT FREE Films, as a summer event.

The $40 million series is directed by three-time DGA award-winner Sergio Mimica-Gezzan ("Heroes," "Into the West") and was shot on location in Hungary and Austria with a star-studded cast including: Ian McShane ("Deadwood," Sexy Beast), Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist, A Knight's Tale), Matthew Macfadyen (Ridley Scott's upcoming Robin Hood, Pride and Prejudice), Eddie Redmayne (The Yellow Handkerchief, The Good Shepherd), Hayley Atwell (The Duchess), Sarah Parish ("Merlin"), Donald Sutherland ("Dirty Sexy Money," The Italian Job), Alison Pill (Milk) and Gordon Pinsent (Away From Her)

"The Pillars of the Earth" is the first major programming deal made by Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht since joining the company in January. The deal was negotiated by Starz Media Deputy General Counsel, SVP Business & Legal Affairs Marc Barson and TANDEM Communications' Partner/Managing Director Rola Bauer. Starz plans to air the series this July, under the Starz Originals banner, kicking off with a two-hour premiere, followed by six one-hour episodes.

"I'm a believer in the power of event television, so 'The Pillars of the Earth' is precisely the kind of programming I want to showcase on Starz," Albrecht says. "With a strong cast, stunning direction, a compelling story based on an international best-selling book and a terrific team of producers, 'The Pillars of the Earth' is set to be one of the must-watch programs this summer."

"We are thrilled to have found such an ardent supporter of this wonderful project in Chris Albrecht and his team at Starz. Chris has always created and appreciated quality content and understands how best to market it. We could not have found a better home," says Bauer.

"Ken Follett's storytelling artistry presents a richness and brilliance we dream about when searching for outstanding properties for event television," says Ridley Scott of Scott Free. "The eight-hour television adaptation of his monumental novel 'The Pillars of the Earth' is everything we could have hoped for and we're extremely happy that Starz will be presenting 'Pillars' to a U.S. audience."

"I am delighted with the series of 'The Pillars of the Earth' � script, cast, direction, everything � and thrilled that it is going to be shown on Starz", world-renowned author Ken Follett says.

Visibility for the television production has already been greatly enhanced through relationships forged by Tandem with both oprah.com and ken-follett.co.uk. These sites, along with the dedicated Pillars site � the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv � are updated regularly and include vast production information, video web diaries and a monthly blog written by Ken Follett.

"The Pillars of the Earth" is a sweeping epic of good and evil, treachery and intrigue, violence and beauty, a sensuous, spirited story set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles in 12th Century England. Ken Follett's book, first published in 1989, has sold more than 14 million copies worldwide and been published in more than 30 languages. The 60th selection in Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, the books sold upwards of 1.4 million copies in the U.S. the day after it was featured on her show in 2007.

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz� and Encore� brands with approximately 16.9 million and 30.6 million subscribers, respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies and new original series every month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Encore HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex On Demand, Starz HD On Demand, Encore HD On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand, and Starz Play. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Starz (Nasdaq: LSTZA), a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.

TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS is located in Munich, Germany and was started in 1999 by Rola Bauer and Tim Halkin. In 2007 Jonas Bauer became a partner in the company and in 2009 Malisa Scott became a partner and Chief Operating Officer. From the beginning, their strategy was to build a vertically-integrated media company whose core business is international production and worldwide distribution. From the Emmy� nominated "Dune" to the Emmy� nominated "Dragon's World" to the Golden Globe� nominated "The Company" to the Nora Roberts Franchise, Tandem continues to develop, produce and distribute high-quality projects.

TANDEM produced the DIVA Award-winning "Ring of the Nibelungs" and garnered excellent ratings on the SCI FI channel in the U.S., as well as internationally for its event movie, "Lost City Raiders." "Impact" premiered successfully in the U.S. on ABC Network.

In 2009, TANDEM launched the new Patricia Cornwell movie franchise with "At Risk" and "The Front," based on her worldwide bestselling crime novels.

MUSE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES, headed by President and CEO Michael Prupas, is a major Canadian independent film and television producer and a leading service producer for international studios and networks. Muse Entertainment is known for bringing well-crafted, high-quality, award-winning productions with strong international appeal to big and small screens. Since 1998, Muse has produced, co-produced or provided production services on 100 TV movies and mini-series, television series and feature films. Muse's head office is located in Montreal. Muse has four production operations in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles.

SCOTT FREE, based in London and Los Angeles, was formed in 1995 and is the film and television production company of directors Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.

The Scott brothers appointed producer David W. Zucker to start up and spearhead their television division as President in 1995. Scott Free Television has become known for such high-quality and internationally successful programs as the new CBS drama series, THE GOOD WIFE, starring Julianna Margulies, NUMB3RS, which wraps its sixth season in March 2010, award-winning long-form programs including the 14 Emmy� nominated INTO THE STORM for HBO, which is a sequel to the Emmy�-winning telefilm, THE GATHERING STORM, A&E's Emmy�-nominated miniseries, Michael Crichton's THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, and TNT's epic six-hour spy thriller, THE COMPANY, a Golden Globe� nominee, starring Michael Keaton and Alfred Molina.

This year Scott Free Films has produced the highly-anticipated Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott, starring Oscar�-winners Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchet, also starring Matthew Macfadyen, who plays the "Prior Philip" in the up-coming 8-hour series THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH. Previously, Scott Free Films produced the box-office smash, American Gangster, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe and Body of Lies starring Leonardo DiCaprio, both directed by Ridley Scott. Tony Scott recently directed Unstoppable, starring Chris Pine and Denzel Washington and previously collaborated with Washington and John Travolta on the actioner The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Tony Scott is also director of Man on Fire, Spy Game and Top Gun while Ridley Scott is responsible for the classic films Gladiator, Thelma & Louise, Alien and Blade Runner.

Please visit the dedicated website: www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv





  [march 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· DEADWOOD (HBO)
· DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC)
· HEROES (NBC)
· INTO THE WEST (TNT)
· MERLIN (SYFY)
· PILLARS OF THE EARTH (STARZ)





[03/27/24 - 01:43 PM]
FOX Entertainment Unveils New Structure with Three-Pillar Focus on Global Studio Operations, Linear & Streaming Platforms and Worldwide Sales & Licensing
The new FOX Entertainment will consist of three primary business segments, including FOX Entertainment Studios, the FOX Television Network and FOX Entertainment Global.

[03/27/24 - 01:03 PM]
Video: "Big Mood" - Official Trailer - A Tubi Original
Best friends Maggie and Eddie have lived in each other's pockets for ten years. But with the future looming, can their relationship survive?

[03/27/24 - 12:32 PM]
This April, Series "Mud Madness" Debuts on Discovery Channel, Alongside All-New Seasons of "Ghost Adventures: House Calls" and "Contraband: Seized at the Border"
"Mud Madness" is a brand-new series that follows the off-road subculture of extreme Big-Tire UTV mud racing and the passionate characters that drive the sport.

[03/27/24 - 12:25 PM]
Ten American Bakers Travel to Paris for Food Network's Ultimate Pastry Competition "Next Baking Master: Paris"
Premiering Monday, May 6, the series demands that competitors prove their mettle in the pillars of great baking and pastry: technique, artistry, flavor, innovation, and inspiration.

[03/27/24 - 12:00 PM]
Video: HBO Releases Official Teaser for "The Jinx - Part Two," Debuting April 21
In Part Two, the filmmakers continue their investigation for the next eight years, uncovering hidden material, Robert Durst's prison calls, and interviews with witnesses who had not come forward until now.

[03/27/24 - 12:00 PM]
Backstabbery Is Back as E! Announces Conniving New Cast of "House of Villains" Season Two, Premiering This Fall
Season one cast member Tiffany "New York" Pollard returns for a chance at redemption.

[03/27/24 - 10:02 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights "Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story" Starring Jana Kramer and Austin Nichols
Kramer, who has openly spoken about domestic abuse, will film a new a PSA for Lifetime's Stop Violence Against Women initiative to align with the subject matter of this movie.

[03/27/24 - 10:00 AM]
"The Steve Wilkos Show" Renewed for 18th Season in National Syndication
The show is hosted by Steve Wilkos, the straightforward, tough-talking former Chicago police officer and United States Marine.

[03/27/24 - 09:59 AM]
Starz's Hit Drama Series "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" Scores Early Season Five Renewal
The third installment in the "Power" franchise, "Raising Kanan" recently concluded its explosive third season and is currently filming season four in New York.

[03/27/24 - 09:30 AM]
Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively Officially Reuniting for Paul Feig-Helmed Sequel, "A Simple Favor 2"
The highly anticipated sequel is a co-production with Lionsgate and follows the studio's 2018 release of "A Simple Favor," which was a critical and commercial success, earning more than $97 million at the worldwide box office and achieving Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes.

[03/27/24 - 09:17 AM]
FOX Nation Partners with Martin Scorsese for New Docudrama "Martin Scorsese Presents: THE SAINTS"
Slated for November, the series will encompass eight one-hour episodes exploring the remarkable stories of eight men and women who risked everything to embody humanity's most noble and complex trait - faith.

[03/27/24 - 09:00 AM]
Academy Award Winner and Tony Award Nominee Ariana DeBose Returns to Host "The 77th Annual Tony Awards," Airing Live Sunday, June 16, on CBS and Paramount+
DeBose will also serve as producer and choreograph the opening number for this year's show.

[03/27/24 - 08:58 AM]
"NKOTB" Bandmate Jonathan Knight Returns for Season Three of Hit HGTV Series "Farmhouse Fixer" on Tuesday, April 23, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
The series, which attracted more than 15 million viewers to its previous season, will follow Jon, best known as a member of the Grammy-nominated band New Kids on the Block, and his go-to designer Kristina Crestin, as they take on a slew of risky renovations.

[03/27/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Good Times" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this edgy, irreverent reimagining of the TV classic, a new generation of the Evans family keeps their heads above water in a Chicago housing project.

[03/27/24 - 06:01 AM]
Hulu on Disney+ Launches Today in the U.S. for Disney Bundle Subscribers
Bundle plans are available starting at $9.99/month, while Disney+ and Hulu each remain available as standalone offerings.