Epix Takes the Wraps Off of New Original Programming to Premiere Summer and Fall of 2012
New Original Programs Join Prominent Slate of Theatrical Releases Coming to EPIX Including: Hugo, Super 8, Margin Call, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Hunger Games and more
New York, NY, April 25, 2012 - EPIX, the multiplatform premium entertainment service, announced today a slate of original programming that will premiere throughout the summer and fall of 2012. From comedy events to documentaries, big stories on beloved icons from William Shatner to Graham Chapman of Monty Python, EPIX unveiled new original films that are compelling and exciting to a wide range of audiences. EPIX also announced its return to the boxing ring with two of the biggest championship fights premiering exclusively in the U.S. on EPIX this summer.
"These original programs are a great complement to the impressive motion pictures coming to EPIX - the stories are moving, the laughs are real, and the end result is entertaining programs that allow us to give viewers even more reasons to come to EPIX on TV, online and on devices," said EPIX CEO and President Mark Greenberg.
EPIX SUMMER AND FALL ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING SLATE:
EPIX Original Comedy Event
Jim Norton: Please Be Offended - Premiering on June 30th
In his first EPIX comedy special, comedian and bestselling author Jim Norton, a regular on Sirius/XM's "The Opie and Anthony Show" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," performs unfiltered and uncensored in front an audience of rabid fans in Cleveland, Ohio. Addressing such things as the increasing amount of privacy invasion, the hypocrisy of people who are appalled by this, and the oversensitivity of everyone about almost everything, Norton, in his self-deprecating style, proves that being offended can often be hilarious.
EPIX Original Documentary
William Shatner's Get a Life! - Premiering in July
Based on Shatner's hugely popular book, this film examines the mystery, longevity and the cultural phenomena of Star Trek and its long-obsessed fans known as "Trekkers." On the surface, the film is an exploration of strangers who have for years attended conventions which looked foolish and almost laughable to some - but what Shatner discovers is the many secrets and hidden motives behind these individuals' compulsion to attend these events. The end result is a film that reveals a fun and touching side of the fanfare surrounding Star Trek, and examines the thrill of what's happening at these fantasy conventions and the enduring popularity of the film and TV series as Shatner further embraces his role as Captain James T. Kirk and his own impact.
EPIX Original Movie
Roger Corman's Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader in 3D - Premiering in August
In an update to the great genre pictures of the '50s, Roger Corman's first ever 3D film Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader follows a college coed who uses an experimental drug to transform herself into a popular beauty - but at a huge price. Produced by Corman along with his producing partner/wife Julie Corman, the movie stars Jena Sims (The Vampire Diaries), Sean Young (Blade Runner), Treat Williams (Hair, Prince of the City, Everwood), Ryan Merriman (Pretty Little Liars), A.J. Lamas (Leave it to Lamas), Mary Woronov (Eating Raoul), Ted Raimi (Spider-Man), with cameo appearances by Corman himself and director John Landis (An American Werewolf in London, Animal House, The Blues Brothers). Acclaimed visual effects artist Kevin O'Neill (Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, Blade and Piranha 3D) directs.
EPIX Original Documentary
Flight 800: A 14-Year Investigation Cracks the Case - Premiering in September
It was called "the largest aviation investigation in US and world history" by the man who led it in 1996. But it was also the most controversial. Now, a team of insiders from that investigation come forward in this feature documentary to blow the lid off a multi-agency cover-up of what really happened to TWA Flight 800. The team was brought together by an extraordinarily persistent scientist 20 years their junior who himself spent 14 years investigating the crash. A riveting story of intense personal journeys and a grand-scale exposé with breathtaking implications.
EPIX Original Movie
A Liar's Autobiography - The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman - Premiering in November
Based on the memoir of the late Monty Python member, Graham Chapman, who died in 1989, the 3D animated biopic tells the story of Chapman's life in the famously atypical Python style. Featuring recordings of Chapman that he made of his book in 1982 and matched with recorded sound from present, the film reunites members of the Monty Python troupe and brings Chapman back to life in a tour de force of animation through 17 different animation styles from 15 different animators.
EPIX Sports
Lucian Bute vs. Carl Froch World Super Middleweight Championship - Televised Live on May 26th
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tony Thompson World Heavyweight Championship - Televised Live on July 7th
EPIX will be the home to two of the biggest boxing battles this summer. In May, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Lucian Bute will make his 10th world title defense when he battles two-time World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Carl "The Cobra" Froch, broadcast live from ringside in England on Saturday, May 26. And in July, IBF/WBO/WBA/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will defend his titles against Tony "The Tiger" Thompson from Washington D.C. televised live from Switzerland.
About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a premium entertainment service available on television, video-on-demand, online and on consumer electronic devices. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood hits, classic feature films, documentaries and original concerts, comedy and sporting events on all platforms. EPIX delivers more than 3,000 titles to authenticated subscribers on EpixHD.com and on hundreds of devices including Xbox 360 consoles, Android(TM) tablets and mobile phones, Roku(R) players, Samsung(R) Smart TVs and Blu-ray(TM) players, Apple(R) iPads(R), iPhones(R) and more. EPIX is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.
For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD, @EPIXsports and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EpixHD.
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