Seven out of eight, not too shabby! We broke the news on seven of the directors from NBC's upcoming FEAR ITSELF TV anthology, which is in the vein of MASTERS OF HORROR. NBC just sent us over the official press release that reveals ALL of the directors, writers and actors that they will be hoping to sign. It's a pretty insane list that includes John Landis, Darren Lynn Bousman, Ronny Yu and many, many more. Read on for the release.
NOTED DIRECTORS JOHN LANDIS, DARREN BOUSMAN, RONNY YU SIGNED TO DIRECT 'FEAR ITSELF,' NBC'S UPCOMING NEW SUSPENSE AND HORROR ANTHOLOGY SERIES FROM LIONSGATE AND INDUSTRY ENTERTAINMENTM
Additional Marquee Directors Signed Include Brad Anderson, Breck Eisner, Mary Harron, Stuart Gordon and Ernest Dickerson
Brandon Routh, Shiri Appleby, Elisabeth Moss, Cynthia Watros, Eric Roberts and John Billingsley Are Cast in Episodes Along with Russell Hornsby, Pablo Schreiber, Stephen Lee, Stephen R. Hart, Jack Noseworthy and Larry Gilliard Jr.
Among Writers Set Are Joe Gangemi, Steve Niles, Dan Knauf, Lem Dobbs, Matt Venne, Richard Chizmar & Johnathan Schaech, Victor Salva, Mick Garris, Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan, Kelly Kennemer and Max Landis
BURBANK - March 3, 2008 - A host of provocative directors, actors and writers - including award-winning directors John Landis ("An American Werewolf in London"), Darren Bousman ("Saw II, III and IV"), Ronny Yu ("Freddy vs. Jason," "Bride of Chucky"), Brad Anderson ("The Machinist"), Breck Eisner (upcoming
Universal Pictures film "Creature from the Black Lagoon"), Mary Harron ("American Psycho"), Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator") and Ernest Dickerson (NBC's "Heroes") - have been signed for NBC's "Fear Itself," a new 13-episode suspense and horror anthology series from Lionsgate in association with Industry Entertainment.
Brandon Routh ("Superman Returns"), Shiri Appleby ("Charlie Wilson's War"), Elisabeth Moss ("Mad Men"), Cynthia Watros ("Lost"), Eric Roberts (NBC's "Heroes"), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise"), Russell Hornsby ("Lincoln Heights"), Pablo Schreiber ("The Wire"), Stephen Lee ("Boston Legal"), Stephen R. Hart ("Shoot 'Em Up"), Jack Noseworthy ("Judging Amy") and Larry Gilliard Jr. ("The Wire") are among the sought-after actors who will be portraying various characters in three episodes of the series.
Among the writers set are Joe Gangemi ("Wind Chill," the novel "Inamorata"), Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night"), Dan Knauf ("Carnivale," "Supernatural"), Lem Dobbs ("The Score"), Matt Venne ("White Noise 2: The Light"), Richard Chizmar & Johnathan Schaech ("Masters of Horror," "From a Buick 8"), Victor Salva ("Jeepers Creepers"), Mick Garris ("Riding the Bullet," "Amazing Stories"), Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan ("Masters of Horror"), Kelly Kennemer ("The Music Within") and Max Landis ("Masters of Horror").
The announcement was made today by Teri Weinberg, Executive Vice President, NBC Entertainment.
"We've teamed up with some of the most illustrious writers, actors and directors to create a distinctive, scare-filled series that will push the boundaries of this classic genre," said Weinberg. "'Fear Itself' will deliver memorable and horrifying moments that will keep fans on the edge of their seats, begging for more on this fun-filled ride of terror."
"We and our partners at Industry Entertainment couldn't be happier about NBC's enthusiastic support of 'Fear Itself' and the caliber of artists who have been drawn to the project," said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate's President of Television Programming and Production. "Our goal is to offer audiences a fantastic thrill every week and we've certainly got the all-star team to do it."
"Eater," is directed by Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator," "Masters of Horror") and written by Cemetery Dance Magazine publisher and editor Richard Chizmar ("From a Buick 8") & actor Johnathon Schaech ("Masters of Horror," "That Thing You Do!"). A rookie cop (Moss) must spend her first night in the precinct watching over a serial killer, coined "The Eater" (Stephen R. Hart, "Shoot 'Em Up"). When her fellow cops start acting bizarre, she quickly learns that no one is who they seem. Russell Hornsby ("Lincoln Heights"), Pablo Schreiber ("The Wire") and Stephen Lee ("Boston Legal") also star.
"Spooked," is directed by Brad Anderson ("The Machinist") and written by Matt Venne ("White Noise 2: The Light"). While on a stake out in a haunted house, a private eye (Roberts) is made to confront the demons of his past. Jack Noseworthy ("Judging Amy"), Cynthia Watros ("Lost") and Larry Gilliard Jr. ("The Wire") also star.
"Community" is directed by Mary Harron ("American Psycho," "The Notorious Betty Page," "Big Love") and written by Kelly Kennemer ("The Music Within"). When a young married couple, played by Routh and Appleby, find the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, their lives seem...well...perfect. But as the dark underbelly of their neighborhood creeps to the surface, they soon realize that their neighbors will go to any extreme -- even murder -- to make sure that they comply with their twisted sense of conformity. John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise") also stars.
"Red Snow" has a screenplay written by Mick Garris ("Riding the Bullet," "Amazing Stories"), from a story by Del Howison ("Dark Delicacies"). Breck Eisner ("Creature from the Black Lagoon") will direct. When four criminals find themselves stranded in an old, snow-covered fort, they slowly discover both the fort and the seductive trio of sirens who reside there are filled with deadly secrets.
"Chance" is written by Lem Dobbs ("The Score"), with a director to be announced later. In the vein of such classic doppelganger stories as "Jekyll & Hyde" and Poe's "William Wilson," the episode explores a dreadful, classic battle that ensues when a man is confronted by his evil self.
"New Year's Day" will be directed by Darren Bousman ("Saw II, III and IV"), and is written by Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night") from a story by Paul Kane. A young woman wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by horrifying zombies.
"Family Man" will be directed by Ronny Yu ("Freddy vs. Jason," "Bride of Chucky") and is written by Dan Knauf ("Carnivale," "Supernatural"). This action-charged, psychological thriller focuses on a likeable family man who switches bodies with a serial killer after a near-death experience. Now, he must fight from behind bars to keep the murderer from adding his family to the long list of victims.
"Skin & Bones" is written by Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan ("Masters of Horror") with a director to be announced later. When a cattle herder returns home to his family after being lost in the woods for days, he just doesn't seem the same. Soon, a terrible mortal struggle ensues against the terrifying monster
possessing him.
"Something With Bite" is a reinvention of the classic werewolf story from writer Max Landis ("Masters of Horror"), the son of John Landis. Ernest Dickerson (NBC's "Heroes") will direct.
In "Nightmare in Lace," John Landis ("An American Werewolf in London") will direct an episode written by Victor Salva ("Jeepers Creepers"). On her wedding day, a beautiful bride receives a mysterious note that reads: "The person you are marrying is a serial killer."
The series is produced by Lionsgate in association with IE Indy TV, Industry Entertainment's newly formed independent television label, and was created by Mick Garris. The Emmy-winning team of Keith Addis and Andrew Deane ("Masters of Horror") are the executive producers. Peter Block is co-executive producer; Grant Rosenberg is supervising producer; and Adam Goldworm, Ben Browning and Jonathan Hackett are producers.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed with Masters of Horror. There is probably 2 or 3 pretty good episodes. Most of them are unwatchable. This will probably not be any better.
Agreed. Other than Cigarette Burns I was underwhelmed by the Master of Horror series. It played out like a broadcast tv attempt at horror. So considering Fear Itself with actually BE on NBC and broadcast television, we can expect some craptacular PG-13 "horror" at best. And seriously, how pretentious does one have to be to call a series "Masters of Horror" when you had maybe 3 or 4 actual established and long working genre directors. The only real masters on that series was Nicotero doing the special effects. What I want to see is a Hard R version of horror episodes on HBO. Maybe turn Chuck Palahniuk's "Haunted" into a mini series and let someone gruesome like those french guys who are doing the Hellraiser remake direct. It seems horror today is like "metal" in the late 80's. Watered down and repackaged for teenagers and easily consumed by the masses. If this crap is what scares people today then our society has turned into some serious pansies.
Network T.V. shows like this don't translate well, Master's of Horror a cable shwo, was just not on par even with the shitty theatrical releases. I don't know how horrific it can be when it shown on Primtime, then gain they show graphic scens on CSI, E.R. and Law and Order...
There are only three of those directors whose contributions I'd be interested in seeing. Who are the other nobodies? In regard to the actors involved, there are only about five I've even heard of. And the fact it's going to be on NBC (not known for quality programming this century) doesn't bode well. I see Argento and Carpenter and others who truly ARE masters of horror are nowhere to be seen here. Hmm...
I was somewhat under-whelmed by MOH as well, particularly the second season. But, that doesn't mean that I'm not looking forward to FEAR ITSELF. Especially since this seems to have the uppperhand when it comes to the writers involved in it.
IMO, while MOH had a great line up of directors involved, the scripts were ,for the most part, mediocre. Therefore, while the episodes were often awesome to look at, the stories were weak. So, with a better crop of writers at work on FEAR ITSELF, we just may wind up with some damn good story telling.
And, while I much prefer my horror to be adult themed in nature, the fact that this is on broadcast television may actually work in it's favor. Who knows, perhaps with the use of copious amounts of sex, gore & nudity not available to the serie's creators, they may find themselves being more inventive at illiciting scares from their audience. Let's hope so anyhow ...
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