USA Networks to Air The Dead Zone Series

Posted on January 4, 2002

USA Networks will begin airing a new one-hour dramatic series, The Dead Zone, produced by Lions Gate in partnership with Paramount International Television (Paramount), beginning in June 2002. The deal, made by Lions Gate with USA Networks, provides for a full season commitment to the new series, based on the characters and story of Stephen King's bestselling novel. The Dead Zone is distributed by Lions Gate throughout North America while Paramount will sell the show in international markets.

The Dead Zone tells the story of an Everyman, Johnny Smith, played by Anthony Michael Hall. Smith is about to be married and has his entire life ahead of him when he is injured in a car accident and goes into a coma. When he emerges from the coma, Smith finds that his fiancee is married to another man, he has a son who doesn't know him and he is both blessed and cursed with strange psychic powers. The series costars Nicole De Boer as female lead Sarah Bracknell, Chris Bruno as Sheriff Bannerman and John Adams as Bruce, the physical therapist.

``The Dead Zone has enthralled tens of millions of readers worldwide, and we believe the television series has all the elements to captivate millions of viewers for years to come,'' said USA Network Executive Vice President, Series and Longform Programming, Jeff Wachtel. ``The series reflects the exciting, high-quality programming that has become a trademark of the USA line-up, and we are ecstatic to forge this alliance with Lions Gate Entertainment.''

The Dead Zone was developed by acclaimed producers Michael and Shawn Piller, responsible for such blockbuster hits as Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, and executive producer Lloyd Segan. It will be produced in association with Piller Squared and The Segan Company production companies. The two-hour pilot, directed by Rob Lieberman, was shot at Lions Gate's studio facilities in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the series will also be produced on location in Vancouver. Lions Gate acquired its rights to The Dead Zone through Modern Entertainment.