or


[03/16/16 - 10:18 AM]
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Team with Adaptive Studios, Pilgrim Media Group and go90(TM) for High-Concept, Interactive, Mobile-First Reality Competition Series "The Runner"
The project has been 16 years in the making: originally sold to ABC in 2000 and it was again sold to Yahoo in 2006 where it remained in development.

[via press release from Pilgrim Media Group]

BEN AFFLECK AND MATT DAMON TEAM WITH ADAPTIVE STUDIOS, PILGRIM MEDIA GROUP AND GO90(TM) FOR HIGH-CONCEPT, INTERACTIVE, MOBILE-FIRST REALITY COMPETITION SERIES "THE RUNNER"

Smartphone Technology and Ubiquitous Social Media Engagement Propel Unscripted Adventure-Competition Show

(March 16, 2016) - LOS ANGELES and NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Academy Award(R) winners Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are teaming with Adaptive Studios (Project Greenlight) and Pilgrim Media Group (Zombie House Flipping) to launch "The Runner" - the first original, high-concept, broadcast-quality competition series to become available on mobile-first social-entertainment platform, go90.

The announcement was made today by Affleck, Damon, Adaptive Studios founding partners Marc Joubert and Perrin Chiles, and Pilgrim Media Group CEO Craig Piligian.

Affleck and Damon executive produce through their company Pearl Street Films. Adaptive Studios' Joubert and Chiles serve as executive producers alongside Pilgrim Media Group's Craig Piligian and Mike Nichols. The series was packaged by WME.

"The Runner" is a groundbreaking new reality competition series in which one individual attempts to make it across the United States unnoticed over the course of 30 days, while the entire country endeavors to locate and capture him or her using all available technology. At stake is a million dollars - not only for the Runner, but also for the chase teams, or "Chasers," who are part of the show format as well. In addition, go90 users who provide tips, sightings and evidence of the Runner's location are also eligible to win big money. The series is scheduled to launch this summer.

Said Joubert, "This is an excellent format for a brand new platform. 'The Runner' is our way of meeting a Millennial audience where they live - on their smartphones and on social media."

Added Piligian, "This show is exactly the kind of series Pilgrim is known for. 'The Runner' integrates real high-stakes competition, live elements, a need for speed, and the ability to fight and persevere. It's incredibly exciting to produce something this complex, and we're thrilled to be in business with Matt and Ben, Adaptive, and our partners at go90 to do it."

"We've been busy bringing a lot of original content to go90, but to deliver on an original with this level of interactivity for users excites us," said Shawn Strickland,Head of Product Innovation at Verizon. "Go90 is inherently social and producing content that supports those elements of the platform creates a pairing for something unique."

Casting for "The Runner" is currently underway. For more information visit www.therunnercasting.com.

About "The Runner"

On a quest to make it from coast to coast over a 30-day period, the chosen "Runner" receives clues that determine his or her itinerary, including specific mandated checkpoints. At the same time, the game includes "Chasers" - eight two-person teams equipped with mobile devices that also receive clues - who try to track the Runner's moves and swoop in to make a capture before the next checkpoint is reached. In an epic twist, all of America can play along and provide tips and information that can help capture the Runner for big cash rewards. Real-time video updates are provided on go90 throughout the game, with multiple updates released each day. People at home can play along in real time regardless of their proximity to the Runner.

About Adaptive Studios

Adaptive Studios is a pioneering media studio focused on the acquisition and development of intellectual property across all platforms. Sourcing material through partners including studios, talent agencies, management companies and production houses, as well as in-house, Adaptive creates and produces film, television, books and graphic novels, and digital entertainment - focusing on whichever platform best fits the story. Adaptive produced the highly acclaimed Project Greenlight for HBO and recently launched Project Greenlight Digital Studios, through which it is actively "greenlighting" an expanding slate of new digital series with emerging filmmakers. The company also announced plans to bring its latest novel, DC TRIP, written by comedian and author Sara Benincasa, to the big screen alongside Van Toffler's new studio, Gunpowder & Sky, and with Bona Fide Productions. Adaptive Books, the publishing imprint of Adaptive Studios, has released 10 titles to date and will publish an average of 10 books and graphic novels annually. For more information visitwww.adaptivestudios.com.

About Pearl Street Films

Pearl Street Films is a Los Angeles-based film and television production company. Founded by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, PSF provides filmmakers with a creative home for making television and film across budgets and genres. Recently, Pearl Street produced season four of its Emmy(R) nominated PROJECT GREENLIGHT for HBO, the filmmaking documentary series Affleck and Damon originated in 2001. Pearl Street Films has just completed production on the feature film LIVE BY NIGHT. Affleck adapted the Dennis Lehane novel, in which he also starred and directed.

About Pilgrim Media Group

Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company, produces a wide variety of unscripted and scripted programming for television, including Fast N' Loud, Street Outlaws and Misfit Garage for Discovery; My Big Fat Fabulous Life for TLC; NAACP Award-winner Welcome to Sweetie Pie's for OWN; Ghost Brothers for Destination America; Ghost Hunters for Syfy; Bring It! and Step It Up! for Lifetime; David Tutera's CELEBrations for WE tv; Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks for National Geographic Channel; and Missing in Alaska for History. Pilgrim also produces FYI talk show series Kocktails with Khloé, hosted by Khloé Kardashian, and The Runner, with Executive Producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, for go90. In the scripted realm, Pilgrim produces for Freeform the freshman series Recovery Road. The company's original movies for Lifetime include Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial In Italy; Abducted: The Carlina White Story, which earned a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing In A Motion Picture; and the crime thriller Stalkers. For more, check outpilgrimstudios.com.

About go90

go90 is a free, mobile-first, social entertainment platform that makes it easy and fun to discover, enjoy and share great content. Available on iOS and Android, go90 is part of the Verizon Communications family of companies. Built for the next generation, go90 brings together networks, distributors, creators, audiences and brands to deliver great experiences for the next generation. For more, check out go90.com.





  [march 2016]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· RUNNER, THE (ABC)





[02/20/25 - 01:22 PM]
Lifetime Announces Two New Original Movies for This Spring
Look for "Taken at a Basketball Game," starring D.B. Woodside and Claire Qute, on March 15; followed by "Wife Stalker," starring Keshia Knight Pulliam, on March 29.

[02/20/25 - 01:01 PM]
Leighton Meester to Guest Star in "Nobody Wants This" Season 2
She'll be playing Kristen Bell's middle school nemesis who Joanne crosses paths with as an adult.

[02/20/25 - 12:30 PM]
Hulu Renews Hit Drama Series "Paradise," from Dan Fogelman and Starring Sterling K. Brown, for a Second Season
Following the season one finale on Hulu on March 4, "Paradise" will air a full first season run on ABC beginning Monday, April 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

[02/20/25 - 12:00 PM]
Feature Documentary on Popular Dutch Actor Rutger Hauer "Like Tears in Rain" Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, March 13, 2025 on Viaplay
Through private, never-before-seen footage and candid interviews with family, friends and colleagues, his goddaughter Sanna Fabery de Jonge uncovers his intimate world in the revealing, acclaimed documentary.

[02/20/25 - 12:00 PM]
CBS Renews Nine Additional Series for the 2025-2026 Season
Additionally, the network has ordered two more seasons of hit comedy "Ghosts," taking the series through the 2026-2027 season.

[02/20/25 - 11:30 AM]
Presenters Announced for the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
The only awards show for actors, by actors, the SAG Awards will feature a star-studded lineup of presenters, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who will present the SAG Life Achievement Award to two-time Academy Award-winning actor, producer, author, and activist, Jane Fonda.

[02/20/25 - 11:00 AM]
What's New on Max This March
This March, stream March Madness live from the opening tip-off of the First Four all the way to the Elite 8.

[02/20/25 - 11:00 AM]
Prime Video Unveils First-Look Images and Release Date for Devilish New Series "The Bondsman," Starring Kevin Bacon
All eight episodes will be available on April 3, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[02/20/25 - 10:11 AM]
Omar Sy to Star in a High-Octane Series Set in the "Extraction" Universe at Netflix
Executive produced by The Russo Brothers and Sam Hargrave, the series follows a mercenary as he navigates a dangerous mission to rescue hostages in Libya and finds himself trapped between warring factions and ruthless killers.

[02/20/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "The Righteous Gemstones" Season 4 - Official Trailer - Max
They're raising holy hell one last time.

[02/20/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "The Twister: Caught in the Storm" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In May 2011, a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri. With pulse-pounding firsthand footage, this documentary goes inside a deadly twister.

[02/20/25 - 09:07 AM]
Discovery Channel Renews Five Freshman Series
Set to return this year, "Expedition Files," "Hustlers Gamblers Crooks," "In the Eye of the Storm," "The Last Woodsmen" and "Mud Madness" were each top three cable series among Men 25-54 in their respective timeslots, excluding news and sports, and each reached at least 8.5 million viewers.

[02/20/25 - 09:03 AM]
NBC Orders Second Season of Its Hit Comedy Series "Happy's Place"
The pilot episode of "Happy's Place" is now up to 17.6 million viewers across all platforms, +338% from its initial airing on October 18.

[02/20/25 - 09:01 AM]
Date Announcement Hulu Original "Matteo Lane: The Al Dente Special"
Matteo Lane's comedy is like catching up with your old friend at brunch. In his latest special, he shares a glimpse into his travels, unique family background and friendships.

[02/20/25 - 09:01 AM]
Apple's New Sci-Fi Series "Murderbot" to Make Global Debut May 16, 2025
Based on Martha Wells' bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series of the same name, "Murderbot" is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients.