JASON PATRIC TAKES THE LEAD ROLE IN "POWERS"
FX Drama Pilot Based on the Award-Winning Comic and Graphic Novel Series
by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Pilot Co-Stars Include Lucy Punch, Charles S. Dutton and Bailee Madison
Pilot Written By Charles H. Eglee and Directed by Michael Dinner
Begins Production in July in Chicago
LOS ANGELES, June 22, 2011 - Film and stage star Jason Patric has signed on to star as "Christian Walker" in the FX drama series pilot Powers, based on the award-winning comic and graphic novel series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.
"We've been asked repeatedly why it has taken so long to bring our series adaptation of Powers to fruition. It is for the same reason we cast Jason Patric in this role; we are aiming for something extraordinary," said John Landgraf, President and General Manager of FX Networks. "The lead role of Detective Christian Walker is an extremely layered character and we needed Jason, who was so brilliant in films like Narc and Rush, to bring him fully to life. He is pitch perfect for this role and we are honored that he chose FX for his first foray into episodic television."
The pilot, written by Charles H. Eglee (The Shield, Dexter, The Walking Dead) and to be directed by Michael Dinner (Sons of Anarchy, Justified), begins production in July in Chicago. Eglee and Dinner serve as Executive Producers along with Bendis, Oeming and David Engel. Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions will co-produce.
Powers is a high concept crime procedural where the detectives police the brutal and sensational crimes surrounding super power beings, while illuminating the weaknesses and strengths of humanity in the process. Powers follows the life of "Christian Walker" (Patric), a homicide detective devoted solely to cases that involve "powers" (people with superpowers). The pilot also stars Lucy Punch (Bad Teacher) as "Deena Pilgrim," Walker's partner; Charles S. Dutton (Roc) as Walker's indefatigable boss, "Captain Cross"; and Bailee Madison (Just Go With It) as "Calista," an acerbic 10-year-old girl drawn into Walker's life.
Patric recently concluded a successful run on Broadway, starring in the revival of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play That Championship Season, with Chris Noth, Kiefer Sutherland, Brian Cox and Jim Gaffigan, directed by Gregory Mosher. The play, originally presented in 1972, was written by Patric's father, Jason Miller.
Patric is represented by David Unger of ICM, Jason Weinberg of Untitled, and Bloom Hergott.
Patric's feature film debut came in 1987 when he appeared in the comedy-thriller The Lost Boys. Other film credits include After Dark My Sweet, Rush, Geronimo: An American Legend, Sleepers, Narc, and Your Friends and Neighbors, which was the first feature Patric produced for his production company, Fleece. Some of Patric's other theater credits include the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Neil LaBute's Bash, Beirut, Out of Gas on Lover's Leap, The Tempest, Henry V and Love's Labor Lost.
FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 99 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series, an established film library of acquired box-office hit movies, and an impressive lineup of acquired hit series.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 120 channel feeds, which are available in more than 142 countries reaching more than 500 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and Sony Movie Channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, new 3D channel 3net, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.
About FX Productions
FX Productions co-produces the award-winning hit drama series Sons of Anarchy, and critically acclaimed hit drama series Justified. FXP produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, and Louie, the animated hit comedy Archer, and FX's newest comedy series Wilfred.
|