By: MrDisgusting

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Production company Vertigo Entertainment (The Invasion, The Strangers, Addicted,The Ring, The Grudge, The Echo) has inked a first-look television deal with Lionsgate to develop and produce scripted programming for broadcast and cable, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Vertigo will be making its first foray into scripted television with The Bates Motel, a re-imagining of Psycho that's being developed with Universal Media Studios. Read on for the full announcement.


Vertigo, which was formed in 2001 by Roy Lee and Doug Davison, has a track record of producing U.S. remakes of Asian films. In addition to best picture Oscar winner "Departed" and "Ring," Vertigo has been a producer on the "The Grudge" and its sequel, "The Ring Two" and "The Lake House."

The company recently entered the TV arena with the MTV series "I'm With Rolling Stone." It also is making its first foray into scripted television with "The Bates Motel," a re-imagining of "Psycho" that's being developed with Universal Media Studios, and a high-stakes gambling drama created by writer Matt O'Neal that is being shopped to networks.

Vertigo's agreement with Lionsgate expands the existing relationship between the companies, which are working together on "The Eye," a thriller produced with Cruise/Wagner that stars Jessica Alba.

"Roy and Doug have tremendous creative instincts, outstanding relationships within the industry and the proven ability to recognize, acquire and develop high-quality material with widespread appeal," said Kevin Beggs, president of television programming and production at Lionsgate. "We look forward to a productive and rewarding relationship as we work together to produce exciting television."

Lionsgate's deal with Vertigo comes on the heels of a first-look deal the studio inked with film production company Killer Films to develop and produce programming for broadcast and cable (HR 6/14).

"The creative sensibility that defines and drives Lionsgate really appealed to us," Lee and Davison said. "Our vision for our television business seems to fit perfectly with how Kevin is growing Lionsgate Television, and we know we will be creating compelling programming together."

Vertigo also is a producer on the upcoming films "The Invasion," a remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig; "The Strangers," a suspense thriller starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman; "Addicted," a psychological thriller starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Lee Pace; and "My Sassy Girl," a romantic comedy starring Elisha Cuthbert and Jesse Bradford.

The company also is in various stages of production and development on such films as the dark comedy "Assassination of a High School President," starring Bruce Willis and Mischa Barton, and "Confessions of Pain," a crime thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

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supernature62 4:04am, June 28, 2007 PROFILE - MESSAGE - REPORT there has already been a short lived tv series based on psycho called the bates motel back in the 80's or early 90's so I guess it is true, there is not one single origanal idea left, in hollywood anyway.

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