Projects include: The Things They Carried (James Sadwith) Cutman (Nick Grillo, Ernest Dickerson, Denis O'Neill) Untitled Basketball Project (Mark Canton, Rick Fox, Bettina Gilois, Chris Cleveland) and an Untitled Political Thriller (Jason Horwitch and Joshua Maurer)
New York, New York-August 2, 2007 – Building on the momentum seen last week which brought AMC the largest amount of Emmy nominations in basic cable and the premiere of the critically acclaimed drama Mad Men, the network announced today a series of new development deals which further its foray into high quality scripted entertainment. Deals include: The Things They Carried (James Sadwith from the best-selling book by Tim O'Brien) an Untitled Political Thriller (Jason Horwitch and Joshua Maurer); Cutman (Nick Grillo and Ernest Dickerson from F.X. Toole short stories) and an Untitled Basketball Project from Rick Fox and Mark Canton). Today's announcement continues to solidify AMC's unique programming strategy which couples quality cinematic television with top iconic films.
Coming in January of 2008, AMC will also premiere the much anticipated series, Breaking Bad, a one-hour original drama, recently greenlit. Breaking Bad is created by and executive produced by acclaimed writer/producer/director Vince Gilligan (X-Files) who will also write and direct select episodes of the series and also executive produced by prolific film producer Mark Johnson (Chronicles of Narnia, Galaxy Quest) and stars Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle). Over the past year, AMC has also announced an extensive slate of original series in development with industry vets. Deals include: The Continuum (Tom Fontana); Untitled Freddy DeMann Music Project (Freddy DeMann and William Finkelstein), Welcome to Bedlam (Kip Koenig, David Semel and Howard Klein); Vows (Karen Hall); Gonzo (Michael Oates Palmer); The Bannerman Solution (Jason Rothenberg and Scott Villa); American Made (Adam Glass, Bob Cooper, and Orin Woinsky); Untitled Western (Walter Hill and Ron Parker) and Buried: (Stacy Title, Jonathan Penner and Steven Schneider). Mini-series, development deals include: The Last Horseman, (Thomas Haden Church and David Denny), Against the Guns of Quantrill (Michael Blake and Lou Morheim) Berlin Mesa (Michael Frost Beckner, John Baldecchi and Rich Silverman), Skylark (Michael Nankin), White Rose (John Leekley) and L-19 (William Brookfield and Gub Neill).
"AMC has rapidly defined a unique programming blueprint coupling cinematic originals with enduring iconic movies. As we expand our development with great creative talent, we are confident that our vision will continue to resonate with both industry and audience" said Rob Sorcher, AMC's Executive Vice President of Programming and Production. "It's clear that the creative community has quickly embraced our mission to deliver the future of classic."
The Things They Carried is a Vietnam War themed mini-series based upon the best-selling and instant classic book by Tim O'Brien. The teleplay will be written by James Sadwith (Cracker) and produced by Fox Television Studios.
Cutman is a one hour dramatic serial set in the world of boxing and based on a series of F.X. Toole (Million Dollar Baby) short stories. Cutman comes from executive producer Nick Grillo (Gods and Generals, Conviction), Director & Executive Producer Ernest Dickerson (The Wire, Heroes, Weeds, ER) and writer Denis O'Neill (The River Wild, A Shot at Glory).
Untitled Political Thriller is a one hour dramatic series from writer & executive producer Jason Horwitch (The Pentagon Papers, and Medical Investigation) and executive producer Joshua Maurer (And Starting Pancho Villa as Himself, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, The Pentagon Papers). The series is a set in a prestigious Washington D.C. think tank. Endeavor and ICM represent the talent.
Mark Canton serves as executive producer (300, Spiderwick Chronicles,) along with executive producer Rick Fox (Former NBA star & Actor – Dirt, Oz, One Tree Hill) for an Untitled Basketball Project which explores the on and off the court world of professional basketball as a one-hour celebrity dramatic series. Writers are Bettina Gilois & Chris Cleveland (Glory Road) William Morris reps the deal.
About AMC
AMC is a multi-platform network that celebrates classic movies and high-quality scripted series. Among the elite services reaching over 92,000,000 homes, AMC defines what it means to be a classic movie network today, creating a distinctive viewing experience that celebrates all that is enduringly cool, personal and powerfully relevant about movies. AMC's comprehensive library of popular movies strike a meaningful chord with its audience, and its critically-acclaimed slate of originals all have a cinematic quality that allow them to complement and be complemented by some of the best movies of all time. AMC has garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including 18 Emmy Nominations in 2007, 14 Emmy awards, and three Golden Globe® nominations for its first original movie, "Broken Trail." A division of Rainbow Media Entertainment Services, AMC's sister divisions include WE tv and the IFC Companies. AMC is THE FUTURE OF CLASSIC.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through its IFC Entertainment division, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a theatrical feature film distribution company; IFC First Take/IFC in Theaters, a day and date theatrical feature film/VOD initiative; the IFC Center in New York City; IFC Productions, a feature film production company; and IFC Entertainment, which owns and operates a film library. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company, and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.