Slingshot Global Media announced today that they will partner with Centropolis Roland Emmerich to direct and executive produce a science fiction television series, “New Angeles”. Stephen Hamel and Keanu Reeves of Company Films brought the project to Centropolis and will executive produce alongside Emmerich. Kirstin Winkler and Aaron Boyd of Centropolis will serve as co-executive producers. Gregg Hurwitz was brought on board to write the project and will executive produce with the others. Slingshot Global Media will produce and distribute the series.
The show will be set in the future, based around a young man who escapes the mundane reality of his life by entering an exciting virtual reality world called New Angeles. Once down the rabbit hole, he adopts a new identity, becoming the man he was always destined to be, and in the process, unlocking the keys to a mystery that has real world consequences for him and his family.
Emmerich will direct the pilot and remain involved in the series as an executive producer. The director is best known for his big-budget, action films such as Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow, 10,000 BC, and White House Down. Emmerich is currently in post-production on Stonewall, a film about the historic riots that took place on the streets of New York City in 1969.
No stranger to action films himself, Reeves is likely best known for his role as Neo in the Wachowskis’ The Matrix Trilogy, although his credits also include films like Speed, Something’s Gotta Give, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Constantine and The Devil’s Advocate. In 2013, Reeves directed his first film, the martial arts action film Man of Tai Chi, in which he also starred. Reeves recently completed production on the action film John Wick, opposite Willem Dafoe, and The Whole Truth, opposite Renee Zellweger.
Were thrilled to have Roland and Keanu on board for a project of this magnitude, said David Ellender, CEO of Slingshot Global Media. Rolands masterful vision for this is extraordinary and Keanus action work behind and in front of the camera speaks for itself.
Hurwitz will be penning the pilot script for “New Angeles”. A New York Times bestselling author, his novels, including his latest thriller, “Dont Look Back,” have been translated into twenty-two languages around the world. He is also a comic book writer who has penned stories for Marvel and DC Comics.
Gregg is an incredibly imaginative writer, and Im looking forward to bringing his ideas for the show to life, added Emmerich. Its exciting to get the opportunity bring a massive project like this to the small screen within a rapidly changing television space.
(Photo Credit: Patrick Hoffman / WENN.com)
