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Lions Gate Television Announces That Drama Series WILDFIRE Has Been Picked Up for Second Season by ABC Family
Production On 13 New One-Hour Episodes To Begin This Fall
SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 25
-- Lions Gate Television, the television production and
distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF; Toronto), announced
today that ABC Family has picked up a second season of Lions Gate's original
drama series, WILDFIRE. A total of 13 one-hour episodes will be produced for
the second season order with production set to begin this fall in New Mexico.
The drama, produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Piller 2
and The Segan Company, centers on the struggles of a young woman, played by
newcomer Genevieve Cortese, to turn her life around. The series also stars
veteran actor Dennis Weaver ("McCloud"), Greg Serano ("Kingpin"), Nana Visitor
("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"), Micah Alberti ("All My Children"), Andrew
Hoeft, James Read, Ryan Sypek and Nicole Tubiola.
"ABC Family is a perfect home for this series," said Kevin Beggs,
president, programming and production, Lions Gate Television. "We're very
proud of the show and appreciate the tremendous support we've received from
the network. The second season pickup of WILDFIRE, Lifetime's recent order of
six additional episodes for the third season of MISSING and THE DEAD ZONE's
ratings strength in its fourth season underscore Lions Gate's ability to
create programming with enduring popularity and value."
WILDFIRE has posted impressive ratings for the season to date, with the
most recent episode attracting approximately two million viewers and placing
among basic cable's top 25 programs in the key 18-49 adult demographic. Lions
Gate's crime series MISSING, starring Vivica A. Fox and Catarina Scorsone,
recently received an order for six additional episodes in its third season on
Lifetime, while Lions Gate's one-hour drama THE DEAD ZONE, starring Anthony
Michael Hall, on USA Network is achieving some of the highest ratings in its
history, positioning it strongly for second-cycle exploitation.
WILDFIRE follows eighteen-year-old Kris Furillo (Cortese) who, after
serving time at a juvenile detention center, is given the opportunity to start
a new life. Her talent with horses is recognized by a volunteer and local
trainer (Serano), who arranges a job for her at the Ritter's family run ranch.
WILDFIRE is produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Piller 2
and The Segan Company. Michael Piller ("The Dead Zone," "Star Trek: The Next
Generation"), Lloyd Segan ("The Dead Zone," "The Bachelor," "Boondock Saints,"
"Bones") and Marjorie David ("Dark Angel," "Chicago Hope") serve as executive
producers.
WILDFIRE is shot in New Mexico, reflecting Lions Gate's cost-efficient
strategy of producing programming in states such as New Mexico and Louisiana
which provide local and government subsidies and tax incentives.
Lions Gate Entertainment is the premier independent producer and
distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment,
family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and
prolific library is a valuable source of stable and recurring revenue and
serves as a foundation for the continued growth of the Company's core
businesses. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring,
quality entertainment in markets around the world.
http://www.lgf.com
SOURCE Lions Gate Entertainment
Web Site: http://www.lgf.com
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