MUMBAI: Crash, a new original drama series based on the Academy Award-winning Best Picture will debut exclusively on Starz in 2008. The 13-episode, one-hour series, co-produced with Lionsgate, will be Starz’s first ever original drama. The announcement was made by Starz Entertainment executive vice president, programming Stephan Shelanski.
 
Key members of the Oscar-winning theatrical production team are on board for the series, including the film’s director, co-writer and producer Paul Haggis, co-writer and producer Bobby Moresco, producer Bob Yari, producer Don Cheadle, producer Mark R. Harris and executive producer Tom Nunan.
 
Crash, which was distributed by Lionsgate, marks only the fifth time a Best Picture Oscar-winner has been turned into a series. Production on the drama is scheduled to begin in the spring.
 
“‘Crash introduced a whole range of fascinating characters and engrossing, intertwined stories that are ideally suited for developing into a TV series,” commented Shelanski. “Starz is the premium channel for movies, so it is appropriate that this Best Picture-winner is providing the basis for our first dramatic series. The fact that key members of the film’s production team are involved will ensure that our series maintains the high level of talent and creativity captured in the film.”
 
“An important part of our strategy is to create franchises across our company’s divisions and early in our involvement with this extraordinary film we recognized its enormous potential to be successfully adapted for television. In Starz, we have found partners who share our vision and we anticipate a great collaboration,” said Lionsgate’s president of programming and production Kevin Beggs.