Ben Silverman's multimedia studio Electus, an operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI), and The Weinstein Company have attached award-winning writer Dave Erickson ("Sons of Anarchy," "Canterbury's Law") to executive produce and co-show run Starz' recently announced epic adventure series, MARCO POLO with creator John Fusco.
MARCO POLO is writer/creator John Fusco's (Hidalgo, Young Guns, Thunderheart, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - Academy Award(R) nomination for Best Screenplay) fantastical new martial arts epic about the thirteenth century explorer, chronicling the famous adventurer's early years in the court of Kublai Khan.
Conscripted into service as the ruler's spy, ambassador, and explorer, young Polo is trained in the scholar-warrior tradition of thirteenth century China. In a court filled with political betrayal and forbidden relationships, Marco must use his martial arts training to survive, but it is his ability to enchant Khan with imaginative tales of his kingdom that is often his best tool to stay alive.
Prior to signing on to MARCO POLO Dave Erickson's most recent work includes writing for FX ratings juggernaut, "Sons of Anarchy," where he has held a lead writer position under Kurt Sutter for the past four seasons. Before his work on "Sons of Anarchy," Erickson created the American legal drama, "Canterbury's Law," on FOX.
"John Fusco has created an epic character and adventure drama unlike anything I've read or seen on television. I'm proud to be part of it," said Dave Erickson.
"Dave Erickson is an exceptional writer and showrunner and I'm excited to have him on our team," said John Fusco. "I could not ask for a better partner in guiding the epic adventure of 'Marco Polo' toward a compelling series."
"Marco Polo" is written and created by John Fusco (Hidalgo, Young Guns, Thunderheart, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - Academy Award(R) nomination for Best Screenplay). It will be executive produced by Harvey and Bob Weinstein (The Weinstein Company), Ben Silverman (Electus), Dave Erickson and John Fusco.
Starz Entertainment will own the exclusive license to the domestic premium pay TV rights and certain digital rights to the series for its flagship STARZ network, while Starz's Anchor Bay arm will distribute the property in the United States in home video. The Weinstein Company and Electus' global distribution arm Electus International control all remaining rights.
About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R) brands with approximately 19 million and 32.8 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA).
About Electus
Electus is the first integrated multimedia entertainment studio to unite producers, creators, advertisers and distributors under one roof and produce all forms of content for distribution across a variety of platforms around the world. Headed by Ben Silverman in partnership with IAC [NASDAQ: IACI], the company connects advertisers, distributors and content creators early on in the development process, enabling marketers and advertisers to be a true partner in campaigns and content creation. Electus International, the global distribution arm of Electus, is responsible for all international sales and distribution for Electus' programming and its studio partners as well as programs and formats from other well-known 3rd party providers. For more information on Electus, visit www.electus.com.
About The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, including Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards(R), including Best Picture.
