NBC PICKS UP "CROSSBONES," NEW ACTION-ADVENTURE SERIES ABOUT GOLDEN AGE OF PIRATES

Series Is from Award-winning Creator of "Luther," Neil Cross, and Acclaimed Film Producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald ("Gladiator," "Men in Black," "The Ring")

NEW YORK CITY -- May 14, 2012 -- From the award-winning creator of "Luther," Neil Cross, and successful producing team of Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald ("Gladiator," "Men in Black," "The Ring") comes an extraordinary action-adventure series "Crossbones" -- with an unexpected moral center where one can't be sure whether the pirates or the British crown are the villains.

Ten episodes of "Crossbones" have been ordered and production will begin in the fall.

The announcement was made today by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment.

It's 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence, the first functioning democracy in the Americas, where the diabolical pirate Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreant sailors. Part shantytown, part marauder's paradise, this is a place like no other on earth - and a mounting threat to international commerce.

To gain control of this fearsome society, Tom Lowe, a highly skilled undercover assassin, is sent to the pirates' haven to take down the brilliant and charismatic Blackbeard. But the closer Lowe gets, the more he finds that his quest is not so simple. Lowe can't help but admire the political ideals of Blackbeard, whose thirst for knowledge knows no bounds - and no law. But Lowe is not the only danger to Blackbeard's rule. He is a man with many villainous rivals and one great weakness - a passionately driven woman whom he cannot deny.

Parkes and MacDonald serve as executive producers. Cross will write and also executive-produce the series. Ted Gold ("Three Rivers") also is an executive producer. The series will be produced by Parkes/MacDonald Productions; Georgeville Television (GVTV), Reliance Entertainment/Motion Picture Capital's new TV Studio; and Universal Television.

For embeddable clips from "Crossbones," please visit NBC.com's official show site: www.nbc.com/crossbones/.

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