TV News

Fear Itself Directors, Writers and Stars Announced

Source:NBC
March 3, 2008


NBC has announced the directors, writers and stars of its upcoming new suspense and horror anthology series "Fear Itself" from Lionsgate and Industry Entertainment:

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.


COMMENTS (20)

Posted by:
BrU
March 3, 2008
Nice series of shows....Definitely watching these.....
Posted by:
Rodney
March 3, 2008
knowing NBC I won't hold too much stock in these shows... remember NBC stands for

Nothing
But
Canceled

Don't get me wrong they all sound interesting but NBC as soon as the Ratings drop just a little they hit the panic button and unfortunately cancelation soon follows. We saw it with the Great shows as Journeyman and The Black Donelleys. They were also on the verge of pulling the plug on 30 Rock (along with The Office quite possibly the funniest shows on Television) just because rating were a little low. However I will be watching "Fear Itself" but with my fingers crossed that NBC doesn't rear it's ugly cancelation head.
Posted by:
steve c
March 3, 2008
i honestly cant see this being good, masters of horror was hit or miss for me and that was on showtime, which allows them to do/say whatever they want, these a re gonne be highly edited versions of horror shorts so i really cant say im overly looking forward to this, i hope im suprised though since there is a horrifying lack of quality horror nowadays
Posted by:
Nice Guy Joey
March 3, 2008
I'm also a little leary on this one, being that network tv has it's limitations on gore and shock. I just hope that the writing is good. There has just been too much bland writing in the horror genre all around. It's time someone pushes the envelope, and hopefully Fear Itself ushers that in.
Posted by:
joe asylo
March 3, 2008
cool Mary harron is gonna direct one, make us cut ourself.
Posted by:
D Train
March 3, 2008
Oh man this sounds so cool. I just orgasmed a little bit.
Posted by:
Kira W
March 25, 2008
I cant wait to see this. They used my parents house to film the 2nd episode...well the outside of it at least.haha Apparently they made the house even scarier looking than it already is.
Posted by:
Steve F
March 26, 2008
The fouth episodes name has already been changed from Red Snow to The Sacrifice
Posted by:
In the mouth of madness!
April 14, 2008
Hey!!....some of them sucks!....were is Wes Craven....****!....were is Freddy Krueger!...now you are getting ***** !!....were is John Carpenter....actual horror movies sucks!!...saw?....thats crap!....only gore!...(im shacking!)....were is the psychological horror!!.....

Masters of Horror....IS MUCH BETTER!!....what happened to you?
Posted by:
is it just me?
April 29, 2008
i'm looking forward to this. i hope it lives up to the hype and they don't cancel prematurely. they don't seem to give shows a chance and they keep **** on forever. masters of horror was good. let's hope nbc doesn't **** up.

ADD COMMENTS

NAME: COMMENTS:
E-MAIL:
Security Code:
Remember my name/e-mail address

Latest Headlines:

Steven Spielberg and Stephen King Team on Dome
Sam Shepard to Star in EPIX's Tough Trade
Chuck Returns on Sunday, January 10
ABC Announces Lost Premiere!
Jason Lee to Star in Clooney's Delta Blues
J.J. Abrams on Star Trek 2 & Mission: Impossible IV
Cho Thinks Khan Should be the Star Trek 2 Villain
Leonard Nimoy Talks Star Trek, Fringe
Edward Woodward Passes Away at 79
NBC Developing New Larry Charles Comedy
ABC Eyes New Version of Charlie's Angels
Fox Cancels Joss Whedon's Dollhouse
The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty to Premiere Dec. 13
J.J. Abrams to Direct NBC's Undercovers
2012 TV Series in the Works
Fox Developing CIA Thriller
TNT Picks Up Acclaimed Drama Southland
Mitchell and Lost Producers on Juliet's Fate

Follow ComingSoon.net on Twitter
MOST ACTIVE

New Moon Breaks Dark Knight's Single Day Record
50 new posts | 90 total posts

The Twilight Saga: New Moon - What Did You Think?!
15 new posts | 199 total posts

New Kull Movie in the Works
7 new posts | 11 total posts

New Colonel Quaritch Featurette for Avatar!
6 new posts | 11 total posts

New Moon Breaks Midnight Opening Record!
3 new posts | 141 total posts

The Twilight Saga: New Moon
3 new posts | 28 total posts

Winnie
2 new posts | 2 total posts

Idris Elba to Play Heimdall in Thor
2 new posts | 44 total posts

Domestic Trailer for Percy Jackson & The Olympians
2 new posts | 19 total posts

The Twilight Saga: New Moon
2 new posts | 14 total posts

Lyndsy Fonseca Hops in Hot Tub Time Machine
2 new posts | 8 total posts

Little Fockers
1 new posts | 28 total posts