or


[03/16/16 - 10:18 AM]
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Team with Adaptive Studios, Pilgrim Media Group and go90(TM) for High-Concept, Interactive, Mobile-First Reality Competition Series "The Runner"
The project has been 16 years in the making: originally sold to ABC in 2000 and it was again sold to Yahoo in 2006 where it remained in development.

[via press release from Pilgrim Media Group]

BEN AFFLECK AND MATT DAMON TEAM WITH ADAPTIVE STUDIOS, PILGRIM MEDIA GROUP AND GO90(TM) FOR HIGH-CONCEPT, INTERACTIVE, MOBILE-FIRST REALITY COMPETITION SERIES "THE RUNNER"

Smartphone Technology and Ubiquitous Social Media Engagement Propel Unscripted Adventure-Competition Show

(March 16, 2016) - LOS ANGELES and NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Academy Award(R) winners Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are teaming with Adaptive Studios (Project Greenlight) and Pilgrim Media Group (Zombie House Flipping) to launch "The Runner" - the first original, high-concept, broadcast-quality competition series to become available on mobile-first social-entertainment platform, go90.

The announcement was made today by Affleck, Damon, Adaptive Studios founding partners Marc Joubert and Perrin Chiles, and Pilgrim Media Group CEO Craig Piligian.

Affleck and Damon executive produce through their company Pearl Street Films. Adaptive Studios' Joubert and Chiles serve as executive producers alongside Pilgrim Media Group's Craig Piligian and Mike Nichols. The series was packaged by WME.

"The Runner" is a groundbreaking new reality competition series in which one individual attempts to make it across the United States unnoticed over the course of 30 days, while the entire country endeavors to locate and capture him or her using all available technology. At stake is a million dollars - not only for the Runner, but also for the chase teams, or "Chasers," who are part of the show format as well. In addition, go90 users who provide tips, sightings and evidence of the Runner's location are also eligible to win big money. The series is scheduled to launch this summer.

Said Joubert, "This is an excellent format for a brand new platform. 'The Runner' is our way of meeting a Millennial audience where they live - on their smartphones and on social media."

Added Piligian, "This show is exactly the kind of series Pilgrim is known for. 'The Runner' integrates real high-stakes competition, live elements, a need for speed, and the ability to fight and persevere. It's incredibly exciting to produce something this complex, and we're thrilled to be in business with Matt and Ben, Adaptive, and our partners at go90 to do it."

"We've been busy bringing a lot of original content to go90, but to deliver on an original with this level of interactivity for users excites us," said Shawn Strickland,Head of Product Innovation at Verizon. "Go90 is inherently social and producing content that supports those elements of the platform creates a pairing for something unique."

Casting for "The Runner" is currently underway. For more information visit www.therunnercasting.com.

About "The Runner"

On a quest to make it from coast to coast over a 30-day period, the chosen "Runner" receives clues that determine his or her itinerary, including specific mandated checkpoints. At the same time, the game includes "Chasers" - eight two-person teams equipped with mobile devices that also receive clues - who try to track the Runner's moves and swoop in to make a capture before the next checkpoint is reached. In an epic twist, all of America can play along and provide tips and information that can help capture the Runner for big cash rewards. Real-time video updates are provided on go90 throughout the game, with multiple updates released each day. People at home can play along in real time regardless of their proximity to the Runner.

About Adaptive Studios

Adaptive Studios is a pioneering media studio focused on the acquisition and development of intellectual property across all platforms. Sourcing material through partners including studios, talent agencies, management companies and production houses, as well as in-house, Adaptive creates and produces film, television, books and graphic novels, and digital entertainment - focusing on whichever platform best fits the story. Adaptive produced the highly acclaimed Project Greenlight for HBO and recently launched Project Greenlight Digital Studios, through which it is actively "greenlighting" an expanding slate of new digital series with emerging filmmakers. The company also announced plans to bring its latest novel, DC TRIP, written by comedian and author Sara Benincasa, to the big screen alongside Van Toffler's new studio, Gunpowder & Sky, and with Bona Fide Productions. Adaptive Books, the publishing imprint of Adaptive Studios, has released 10 titles to date and will publish an average of 10 books and graphic novels annually. For more information visitwww.adaptivestudios.com.

About Pearl Street Films

Pearl Street Films is a Los Angeles-based film and television production company. Founded by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, PSF provides filmmakers with a creative home for making television and film across budgets and genres. Recently, Pearl Street produced season four of its Emmy(R) nominated PROJECT GREENLIGHT for HBO, the filmmaking documentary series Affleck and Damon originated in 2001. Pearl Street Films has just completed production on the feature film LIVE BY NIGHT. Affleck adapted the Dennis Lehane novel, in which he also starred and directed.

About Pilgrim Media Group

Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company, produces a wide variety of unscripted and scripted programming for television, including Fast N' Loud, Street Outlaws and Misfit Garage for Discovery; My Big Fat Fabulous Life for TLC; NAACP Award-winner Welcome to Sweetie Pie's for OWN; Ghost Brothers for Destination America; Ghost Hunters for Syfy; Bring It! and Step It Up! for Lifetime; David Tutera's CELEBrations for WE tv; Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks for National Geographic Channel; and Missing in Alaska for History. Pilgrim also produces FYI talk show series Kocktails with Khloé, hosted by Khloé Kardashian, and The Runner, with Executive Producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, for go90. In the scripted realm, Pilgrim produces for Freeform the freshman series Recovery Road. The company's original movies for Lifetime include Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial In Italy; Abducted: The Carlina White Story, which earned a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing In A Motion Picture; and the crime thriller Stalkers. For more, check outpilgrimstudios.com.

About go90

go90 is a free, mobile-first, social entertainment platform that makes it easy and fun to discover, enjoy and share great content. Available on iOS and Android, go90 is part of the Verizon Communications family of companies. Built for the next generation, go90 brings together networks, distributors, creators, audiences and brands to deliver great experiences for the next generation. For more, check out go90.com.





  [march 2016]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· RUNNER, THE (ABC)





[02/18/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Boyfriend on Demand" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Seo Mi-rae is worn out by work. Love? It's the last thing on her mind. But a virtual dating service sparks feelings - and maybe a real shot at romance.

[02/18/26 - 02:34 PM]
TLC Announces the Return of "7 Little Johnstons" on Tuesday, March 17
The Johnston family is back, and this season is all about love, laughter, and one unforgettable trip down the aisle.

[02/18/26 - 12:28 PM]
Next on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN - March 2026
Highlights include the return of "Daredevil: Born Again" plus the streaming premieres of "The Secret Agent," "It Was Just an Accident," "Dangerous Animals," and "Sentimental Value."

[02/18/26 - 11:02 AM]
AMC Networks' March Streaming Highlights Include "Dark Winds," "The City Is Ours: A Crime Family Saga," "100 Nights of Hero" and More
Other offerings include the return of "Mystery Road: Origin" and the debut of "The Feud on Shelbury Drive."

[02/18/26 - 11:01 AM]
New Babies, New Beginning. New Season of Bravo's "The Valley" Premieres on Wednesday, April 1 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
The season three cast includes Danny Booko & Nia Sanchez Booko, Luke Broderick & Kristen Doute, Jason & Janet Caperna, Brittany Cartwright, Jasmine Goode, Jesse Lally, Michelle Saniei and Zack Wickham.

[02/18/26 - 10:10 AM]
Video: Official Trailer for "The Faithful: Women of the Bible" Premiering March 22 on FOX
The highly anticipated biblical event series stars Minnie Driver, Natacha Karam, and Jeffrey Donovan.

[02/18/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare" Debuts March 10
The film reconstructs the nine harrowing days following the disaster in forensic, real-time detail, from the control-room engineers fighting to prevent a total meltdown, to the political leaders confronting the unthinkable, to ordinary citizens caught in the fallout.

[02/18/26 - 09:17 AM]
Great American Media Launches, "40 Days of Scripture & Film," A Lenten Journey Featuring Acclaimed Faith-Based Films, Including "God's Not Dead," "The Blind," "Someone Like You," and "Just in Time"
Other highlights include the mid-winter finale of "Crossroad Springs"; the original movie "Blessings in Disguise"; and an all new season of "When Hope Calls: Brookfield."

[02/18/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Unicorn Academy: Secrets Revealed" Teaser - Netflix Family
Follow Sophia and her friends as they embark on a glimmering quest to unlock Unicorn Island's mysteries and banish Grimoria - and Ravenzella - for good!

[02/18/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Hulu Debuts Official Key Art and Trailer for Season Four of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"
The series returns with all 10 episodes on Thursday, March 12 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ in select international markets.

[02/18/26 - 09:00 AM]
Adult Swim Gives Green Light to Animated Comedy from Dan Licata and Joe Pera, "My Two Cars"
The animated quarter-hour comedy is the only show brave enough to explore what happens when a man owns two cars and all the joy and frustration that comes with it.

[02/18/26 - 08:31 AM]
BET Honors the Enduring Legacy of Civil Rights Trailblazer Rev. Jesse Jackson with Special Tribute, "Jesse Jackson: In His Own Words," Airing February 18 and 19 on BET
Narrated by CBS News National Correspondent Michelle Miller, this BET News special offers a rare and powerful look at Rev. Jackson's life through archival interviews and historic speeches that capture his profound national and global impact.

[02/18/26 - 08:06 AM]
Dawn French Sitcom "Can You Keep a Secret?" Recommissioned for a Second Series After Launch Episode Racks Up 5.3 Million Viewers
The series landed as the third biggest comedy launch on BBC iPlayer since 2024 with an audience of 3.3 million (62% of the audience) across 28-days.

[02/18/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for "Imperfect Women," Premiering Globally March 18
The eight-episode series will make its global debut on Apple TV with the first two episodes on Wednesday, March 18, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through April 29.

[02/18/26 - 06:31 AM]
"Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution" - Historian Lucy Worsley Explores One of History's Most Explosive Breakups and How the British Empire Lost the War for America's Independence Against a Ragtag Band of Rebels
The new two-part series, filmed on both sides of the Atlantic, premieres Tuesday, April 7.