PRODUCTION HAS BEGUN IN LOS ANGELES ON FIFTH SEASON EPISODES OF THE AWARD WINNING SPY DRAMA, �ALIAS,� AIRING THURSDAYS ON ABC

The electrifying Emmy Award winning spy drama, �Alias� -- which has received an additional four Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actress for Jennifer Garner -- has begun production in Los Angeles on emotionally gripping fifth-season episodes in the life of CIA agent Sydney Bristow. Jennifer Garner stars in her Golden Globe Award-winning role in this non-stop thrill ride through espionage, adventure and heart-wrenching drama. �Alias� will have its season premiere on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

After Sydney accepted an assignment to be a member of a new black ops sector of the CIA, known as APO, she was shocked to discover that Sloane was heading up the unit. Without an ounce of trust for her nemesis, Sydney kept a watchful eye on him, as did Vaughn, Dixon and Marshall. But she had to keep her suspicions in tow while working with her half-sister and Sloane�s daughter, Nadia, in order not to alienate her and lose her trust. But Sydney was hard-pressed to define the enigma that is Sloane when he shot his own daughter in order to save Sydney�s life while thwarting the devastating effects of the Rambaldi endgame. Meanwhile, Jack�s near-death experience and the truth behind why he had wrongly believed he killed his ex-wife and Sydney�s mother, Irina Derevko, strengthened the bond between father and daughter; while fianc� Vaughn�s revelation that he may not be the man Sydney thought he was caught her completely off guard, and a horrendous car accident left their fates in limbo.

Even more gripping and emotional events are in store for Sydney. After they both survive the crash, she learns that the man she has known as Michael Vaughn is under investigation and suspected of being a double agent. She questions whether their business and personal relationship over the years had all been a lie. When Sydney discovers that she is pregnant with Vaughn's baby, she is determined to uncover the truth about him. Meanwhile, because of Jack's past betrayal by Irina, he begins to worry that his daughter may suffer the same fate as he did. He will also have to deal with the fact that he will soon become a grandfather � while still learning how to be a dad. Sloane will have to do some soul-searching of his own, as he makes an unholy alliance in his desperate fight to find a cure for Nadia � who is still in a coma.

New agents will be introduced and a nefarious organization will come to light in Sydney�s life as she fights to protect her unborn child -- all the while traveling incognito, outsmarting the bad guys and keeping the world safe.

�Alias� stars Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, Victor Garber as Jack Bristow, Ron Rifkin as Arvin Sloane, Michael Vartan as Michael Vaughn, Carl Lumbly as Marcus Dixon, Kevin Weisman as Marshall Flinkman, Rachel Nichols as Rachel Gibson and �lodie Bouchez as Ren�e Rienne.

The series was created by J.J. Abrams, who executive-produces along with Ken Olin, Jeff Pinkner, Jesse Alexander and Jeffrey Bell. �Alias� which is filmed in Los Angeles and premiered on September 30, 2001, is from Touchstone Television.