Starz Chief Executive Officer, Chris Albrecht, announced today that Starz has put into development a new hour-long scripted drama "WonderWorld," with Owen Wilson, Rene Balcer, Fred Berner, and Regina Lee. Set in Ronald Reagan's America and inspired by one of the biggest undercover operations in FBI history, "WonderWorld" follows two straight-arrow FBI agents as they infiltrate the violent Mob-controlled porn industry of the 1980s, with dire consequences for themselves and their families.
Executive Producer Owen Wilson is known for his long association with the film maker Wes Anderson, having shared co-writing and acting credits in the films Bottle Rocket (1996) which was his acting début and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which was nominated for an Academy(C) Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as acting in Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) and The Darjeeling Limited (2007). Wilson is also known for his collaborations with Ben Stiller, appearing in eight films together including Meet the Parents (2000) and the cult classic Zoolander (2001). More recently he has starred in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris (2011).
Emmy(R)-Award winning writer and producer Rene Balcer will be Executive Producer, writer and showrunner on "WonderWorld." Balcer is best known for his work as head writer and showrunner of "Law & Order," and as the co-creator, head writer and showrunner of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." He most recently created and produced the series "JO" in Paris with Jean Reno and Jill Hennessy. Balcer has won numerous awards for his work, including an Emmy, a Peabody(R) and the WGA Award.
Fred Berner will serve as Executive Producer on "WonderWorld." Berner is best known for his work as an Executive Producer/Director on "Law & Order" and "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," as well as "Magic City." Berner's film credits include Pollock and Vanya on 42nd Street. Regina Lee will serve as a producer on "WonderWorld" as a development executive for Owen Wilson's production company, which recently launched its TV arm. Previously, Lee was a development executive for Hugh Jackman's Seed Productions, where she was the executive in charge of 20th Century Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Deception. Lee also brought the Broadway musical "Houdini" into the company, which Jackman will star in. Lee began her executive career as a Creative Executive for Universal Pictures, where she supervised American Wedding and Curious George.
Wilson is represented by UTA and attorney Bob Wallerstein of Hirsch Wallerstein.
Balcer is represented by UTA and attorney Don Walerstein of Rohner Walerstein.
Berner is represented by Verve and attorney Jeanne Newman at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.
Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R) pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of June 30, 2013,
Starz and ENCORE serve a combined 56.9 million subscribers, including 21.8 million at STARZ, and 35.1 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R), along with
Starz Networks' third network MOVIEPLEX(R), air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through
Starz PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY.
Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television.
Starz Distribution's home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties.
Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.
