WGN AMERICA RELAUNCHES AS DESTINATION FOR ORIGINAL CONTENT
Network's
First
Original,
Scripted
Drama
"Salem"
to
Premiere
Sunday,
April
20,
2014
"Manhattan"
to
Premiere
July
2014
"Ten
Commandments"
Scripted
Event
Series
Ordered
from
The
Weinstein
Company;
10
Filmmakers,
Each
to
Direct
a
Single
Commandment
Los
Angeles
(January
12,
2014)
-
With
a
clearly
focused
strategic
mission,
a
new
logo
and
an
expanded
primetime
lineup
of
powerful
and
provocative
programming,
WGN
America
(WGNA)
is
relaunching
to
become
a
top-tier
general
entertainment
cable
network,
driven
by
high-quality,
distinctive
original
content.
The
announcement
was
made
today
by
Matt
Cherniss,
President
and
General
Manager,
WGN
America
and
Tribune
Studios,
during
WGN
America's
first-ever
presentation
to
the
Television
Critics
Association
(TCA).
In
support
of
the
launch,
WGNA
has
made
bold
moves,
ordering
straight
to
series
the
production
of
two
standout,
scripted
dramas:
"Salem,"
to
premiere
Sunday,
April
20,
2014,
and
"Manhattan,"
to
start
production
in
New
Mexico
in
March
for
a
July
2014
premiere.
WGN
America
has
also
ordered
the
10-part
scripted
event
series
"Ten
Commandments"
from
The
Weinstein
Company
(TWC).
Over
10
nights,
10
different
visionary
filmmakers
will
take
on
a
single
Commandment
with
their
modern
interpretation
of
that
Commandment.
Five
of
the
10
filmmakers
on
board
to
direct
episodes
are
Gus
Van
Sant,
Lee
Daniels,
Jim
Sheridan,
Wes
Craven
and
Michael
Cera.
Academy
Award(R)
winning
producer
Bruce
Cohen
("American
Beauty,"
"Silver
Linings
Playbook")
and
Bob
Weinstein
will
produce
the
series.
"We're
transitioning
from
a
network
with
regional
roots
to
one
with
a
true
national
identity,
driven
by
provocative,
brand-defining
programming
of
the
highest
quality,"
said
Cherniss.
"With
this
relaunch
and
our
expanded
portfolio
of
original
content,
we
expect
to
significantly
strengthen
our
position
as
a
destination
for
viewers."
"Salem,"
which
reexamines
the
infamous
witch
trials
in
17th
century
Massachusetts,
is
now
in
production
on
a
massive
Louisiana
set
that
recreates
the
historic
village
with
astonishing
detail,
complete
with
critical
period
and
architectural
elements,
including
candlelit
interiors,
rustic
shops
and
a
town
center
that
bears
witness
to
the
horrors
and
excitement
of
the
time.
The
storyline
explores
how
suspicion
and
fear
gripped
Salem
and
its
residents,
and
reveals
the
truth
that
in
Salem,
the
witches
were
real,
but
not
who
they
seemed
to
be.
Set
in
Los
Alamos,
N.M.,
at
the
Manhattan
Project
during
the
race
to
build
the
world's
first
atomic
bomb,
"Manhattan"
explores
the
cost
of
secrets
and
the
corrosive
effect
they
have
on
individuals,
families
and
their
relationships.
"We
want
our
series
to
transport
the
audience
to
worlds
that
they
have
never
experienced
and
tell
big,
operatic
stories
that
entice
and
entertain,"
added
Cherniss.
"We've
harnessed
some
incredible
talent
to
depict
these
worlds
in
a
way
that
highlights
the
universalities
in
human
nature
that
bind
us
all."
"Salem"
"Salem"
is
created,
executive
produced
and
written
by
award-winning
writer/producer
Brannon
Braga
("24,"
"Star
Trek:
The
Next
Generation,
Voyager
and
Enterprise")
and
Adam
Simon
("The
Haunting
in
Connecticut").
The
series
stars
Janet
Montgomery
("Human
Target,"
"Made
in
Jersey")
as
the
ruthless
but
vulnerable
Mary
Sibley,
Salem's
most
powerful
enchantress;
Shane
West
("Nikita,"
"ER")
as
handsome,
hardened
war
veteran
John
Alden
-
and
Mary's
onetime
love
interest;
Seth
Gabel
("Fringe")
as
local
aristocrat
Cotton
Mather,
who
fans
the
flames
of
Salem's
witch
hunt;
Ashley
Madekwe
("Revenge")
as
Mary's
enigmatic,
carnal
accomplice;
Xander
Berkeley
("Nikita,"
"The
Mentalist")
as
chief
politician
Magistrate
Hale;
Tamzin
Merchant
("Jane
Eyre")
as
the
forthright
Anne
Hale,
an
artist
with
a
perilous
attraction
to
Alden;
and
Elise
Eberle
("The
Astronaut
Farmer")
as
the
mysteriously
afflicted
Mercy
Lewis.
"Salem"
hails
from
Fox
21
("Homeland,"
"Sons
of
Anarchy"),
the
prolific
cable
production
division
of
Twentieth
Century
Fox
Television.
"Manhattan"
The
original
scripted
drama
"Manhattan"
is
written
and
created
by
Sam
Shaw
("Masters
of
Sex")
who
serves
as
executive
producer,
alongside
executive
producers
David
Ellison,
Dana
Goldberg
and
Marcy
Ross.
Emmy
Award-winning
director
Thomas
Schlamme
("The
West
Wing,"
"Sports
Night")
directs
and
also
serves
as
executive
producer
under
his
Shoe
Money
Productions
banner.
"Manhattan"
is
produced
by
Tribune
Studios,
in
partnership
with
Skydance
Television
and
Lionsgate
Television.
Tribune
Studios,
the
newly
formed
development
arm
of
Tribune
Corporation,
is
quickly
becoming
a
notable
creative
force
in
television,
with
a
roster
of
new
projects
in
development
for
WGN
America
and
Tribune's
local
stations.
#
#
#
About
WGN
America
WGN
America,
the
flagship
network
of
Tribune
Broadcasting
Company,
is
nationally
distributed
via
cable,
satellite
and
telco
with
entertainment
programming
consisting
of
the
original
series
"Salem,"
premiering
in
April,
"Manhattan,"
premiering
in
Summer
2014,
first-run
programs,
blockbuster
movies
and
live
sports.
WGN
America
is
currently
available
in
75
million
homes.
For
program
schedules
or
additional
information
please
visit
www.wgnamerica.com.
|