News

Lionsgate continues to expand its production footprint, this time as anchor tenant with naming rights to the new 500,000 square-foot Lionsgate Studios Atlanta.

The 40-acre, $200 million complex in Douglas County (the site of some location filming for The Hunger Games) will be up and running in late 2023. About 16 miles from Atlanta center and 25 minutes from the Atlanta Airport, it will include 12 large sound stages, office and support space, a back lot and parking for 400 cars and 100 trucks. Owned and operated by Great Point Studios, Robert Halmi’s film and television infrastructure group, it will offer a full set of production services on site including grip and electric, equipment, props, set building, restaurants, location catering, cleaning service and security.

“Lionsgate Studios Atlanta becomes our third state-of-the-art production complex with proximity to a major metropolitan area, allowing us to continue to scale our film & television production operations, create hundreds of local jobs and invest in regional economic growth,...

Exclusive: Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, whose subsidiaries include specialty film distributor Screen Media, is acquiring 1091 Pictures.

The purchase price of $15.55 million consists of $8 million in cash, $2 million in newly issued shares of Series A perpetual preferred stock and 375,000 shares of Class A common stock. The preferred shares were valued at $25 in the deal, and the common stock at $14.80.

In addition to creating a bulked-up specialty film distributor, the deal will provide a significant boost for Chicken Soup’s streaming operation. The company is among the leaders in ad-supported streaming, operating Crackle, Popcornflix and other services. It bought Screen Media in 2017 and plans to combine 1091 with that existing business unit.

Sony launched 1091 as a film and TV subsidiary of The Orchard in 2015. It rebranded as 1091 in 2019.

The roughly 4,000 movies and TV series in the 1091 vault range across many genres. Included are acclaimed documentaries like The Ghost of Peter Sellers,...

Crackle Plus, the streaming outfit run by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, unveiled new series and a feel-good streaming service named after the parent company during a virtual NewFronts presentation.

The newest member of the streaming portfolio will launch this fall and join Popcornflix and Crackle under the Crackle Plus umbrella, the company said. Owned and operated for more than a decade by Sony, Crackle has been under the full control of Chicken Soup for the Soul since December 2020. Sony remains a minority stakeholder.

Crackle Plus said new series in the works include a second season of personal finance/college debt show Going from Broke, which is executive produced by Ashton Kutcher. Newer entries include Riding Phat, about the electric-power-focused company Phat Scooter; invention series The Uncommon History of Very Common Things; and Inside the Black Box, which features Black entertainment figures and discussions of race.

New sports docuseries...

The Robert Halmi library has a new home. Halcyon Television has been formed by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the media company that acquired Sonar Entertainment last month.

Sonar had been headed by CEO David Ellender for the past two years. Halcyon is billed as a high-end scripted production company that is already shepherding multiple development projects. At present Halcyon’s roster of shows, inherited from Sonar, includes Amazon’s “Hunters” and Disney Plus’ “Mysterious Benedicts Society.”

Sonar acquired Halmi’s Rhi Entertainment assets out of bankruptcy in 2012. Sonar itself hit a cash flow crunch in 2019 after committing to a slew of projects. The sale of Sonar to Cos Cob, Conn.-based Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Csse) was confirmed April 9.

“The formation of Halcyon Television will help accelerate our company’s strategy to build the leading independent AVOD network in three ways. It will expand our original...

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has bought the assets of Sonar Entertainment, the well-established production entity built by Robert Halmi Sr.

The up-front cost is just $19.5 million, but the ultimate valuation will likely grow over time, as future licensing proceeds will also be split with Sonar. The initial payment is considered an advance, which will be recouped by Chicken Soup upon the sale or licensing of certain TV rights. About $1 billion has been invested into film and TV projects controlled by Sonar, according to the official deal announcement. Among the company’s current series are Hunters on Amazon Prime Video and the soon-to-premiere Mysterious Benedict Society on Disney+.

Screen Media, a division of Csse, will distribute Sonar’s library of more than 1,000 titles. Those offerings include Hal Roach Studios shorts like Little Rascals, Laurel & Hardy and Blondie and miniseries like Lonesome Dove and Dinotopia.

The acquisition covers 372 TV series and more than 700 Films.

The death of Robert Halmi Sr., the vastly respected producer of ambitious and Emmy-winning TV projects who led a very full life over 90 years, stirred plenty of comment and reaction on social media and beyond. Below is a sampling of reactions from some of the industry’s notables, including producer Gale Anne Hurd‘s (The Walking Dead) simple homage of two hashtags. R.I.P. Robert Halmi Sr. http://t.co/YpNuUGW8aA via @deadline #Legendary #Producer — Gale Anne Hurd (@GunnerGale) July 31, 2014 Sad to see that Robert Halmi, King of the Miniseries has passed ! R.I.P. Robert Halmi Sr. http://t.co/YHFnKAc4GH via @deadline — Sharon A. Fox […]...

Robert Halmi Sr., the master showman behind such big-budget made-for-tv movies as The Josephine Baker Story and Gulliver’s Travels, died Wednesday in his New York City home. He was 90. Halmi, once a leading magazine photographer, founded Rhi Entertainment in 1979, sold it to Hallmark in 1994 for $378 million (plus the assumption of $50 million in debt) and then bought it back in 2006. He produced more than 200 films and miniseries for television during his career, and his projects were honored with 136 Emmy Awards (from an astonishing 480 nominations). Halmi, often working with his

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Syfy is doing well with its original series, and coming off the back of the popularity, and general awesomeness, of Helix, the network has announced two more series are coming your way.

With zombies now taking over the top spot in the ever-changing monster popularity consciousness, it’s no surprise that we’re getting another series focusing on the undead. Syfy‘s spin is Z Nation, and rather than kicking off with the appearance of the zombies, this one starts years after our zombie plague has already gutted most of humanity. Apparently, when someone immune to the plague finally turns up, we embark upon a quest to reach the other side of the country to hopefully make use of his blood in creating a cure.

There aren’t a lot of details yet, and this is one that will live or die by its cast, but it could be an...

Syfy has announced that they've ordered Olympus, a new TV series based on mythology. The cable channel has ordered 13 episodes and the show is expected to debut sometime next year.

Here's the Syfy press release:

Syfy, Reunion Pictures And Great Point Media Announce New Mythology Drama Series "Olympus"

13-part Series, Written And Directed By Nick Willing, With Executive Producers Robert Halmi Sr. And Matthew O'Connor, Will Premiere On Syfy In 2015

New York - April 7, 2014 - Syfy, Reunion Pictures and Great Point Media today announced a new mythological drama series Olympus, which will take viewers into the action-packed world of humans, Gods and monsters.

The 13-part series of one hour episodes will premiere on Syfy in 2015.

The team behind Olympus includes writer Nick Willing (Tinman, Alice, Neverland) and legendary...

In recent years, Syfy has become better known for shlocky creature features like Sharktopus and Sharknado than high-quality sci-fi/fantasy programming, but the channel has been taking steps over the past few weeks to reclaim its title as the resident channel for sci-fi aficionados. Hot on the heels of ordering a TV adaptation of the Bruce Willis classic 12 Monkeys, green-lighting miniseries Ascension and drama Dominion, and renewing series Helix, Continuum, Lost Girl, Defiance and Haven, Syfy has ordered a miniseries rooted in Greek mythology, titled Olympus.

The 13-episode series will tell the story of a group of brave men and women who banished the gods to “the realm of the unconscious: a place they called the Underworld, or the Kingdom of Hades,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Olympus follows a man named Hero, who grows from a young boy into a brilliant leader capable of taking on the gods themselves.

Syfy, Reunion Pictures and Great Point Media today announced the new mythological drama series, "Olympus," which will take viewers into the action-packed world of humans, Gods and monsters. The 13-part series of one hour episodes will premiere on Syfy in 2015. The team behind "Olympus" includes writer Nick Willing ("Tinman," "Alice," "Neverland") and legendary executive producer Robert Halmi Sr. ("Mr. and Mrs. Bridge," "The Odyssey," "Gulliver's Travels"). "Olympus" will tell the story of how a few brave men and women banished the Gods to the realm of the unconscious - a place they called the Underworld or the Kingdom of Hades. The series will follow the protagonist on his journey as he...

Content Media Corporation’s Content Television and Digital division has entered into a two-year agreement with Great Point Media, the London-based TV/film company founded in 2012 by Robert Halmi Jr. and Jim Reeve. Under the deal, Content Television, headed by President Greg Phillips, will have international distribution rights to Great Point Media’s TV output and will have the option to collaborate on packaging, creative development and sales of television content on the international market. The two companies are expected to have a slate of projects ready by Mipcom in the fall. According to Reeve, the emphasis will be on drama series, though miniseries — where Halmi Jr. and his father, Robert Halmi Sr., have a long tradition — likely also will be represented. For Phillips, “the appeal was that you’ve got a top-quality supplier [in Great Point Media].” Content Media also has a first-look deal with Edyson Entertainment in Los Angeles and Toronto and represents Jigsaw Productions,...

Films about demonic rituals are all the rage in Hollywood horror at the moment, and word has just come out of the UK about a new one that's soon headed our way. Bust out your Ouija board and read on!

As per Screen Daily, Content has boarded worldwide rights to a UK horror film called Altar, which is currently shooting in Yorkshire. The flick was written and is being directed by Nick Willing (Neverland).

Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket), Olivia Williams, Antonia Clarke and Adam Thomas Wright make up the members of a family who move into a remote English country estate, where it is rumoured the original owner killed his wife in a demonic ritual.

Executive producer is Robert Halmi Sr. who spearheads the production, comprising The Halmi Company and UK outfit Great Point Media in association with Sandover Productions.

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Exclusive: Content boards UK feature starring Matthew Modine and Olivia Williams, executive produced by Robert Halmi.

Content has boarded worldwide rights to new UK horror Altar, currently shooting in Yorkshire.

Olivia Williams, Matthew Modine, Screen Star of Tomorrow Antonia Clarke, Adam Thomas Wright and Steve Oram star in the feature, written and directed by Neverland director Nick Willing  and produced by Michele Camarda.

Modine, Williams, Clarke and Wright make up the members of a family who move into a remote English country estate, where it is rumoured the original owner killed his wife in a demonic ritual.

Executive producer is Robert Halmi Sr. who spearheads the production, comprising The Halmi Company and UK outfit Great Point Media (where Robert Halmi Jr execs) in association with Sandover Productions.

The feature is supported with investment from Screen Yorkshire through the European Regional Development Fund.  Executive producers alongside Robert Halmi Sr are Robert Halmi Jr. and [link=nm...

Two familiar television faces welcomed the opportunity that one project gave them to change things up.

The fact-inspired Lifetime drama "Baby Sellers," premiering Saturday, Aug. 17, offers Kirstie Alley and Jennifer Finnigan ("Monday Mornings") chances for something different. Emmy-winning "Cheers" and "Dancing With the Stars" alum Alley notably underplays the part of a seemingly respectable adoption agency chief with a worldwide network, her illegal supply chain for the youngsters she needs.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent portrayed by Finnigan is on to the scheme. She infiltrates the operation, and one notable scene gives the actresses a face to face confrontation reminiscent of the midstory showdown between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in 1995's "Heat."

"I get to be the bad guy, right?" Alley asks Zap2it with a knowing laugh. "I think when you're the bad guy, you think you're the good guy, or you wouldn't do what you do.

Just as it did back in 2005 with the miniseries Human Trafficking, Lifetime is again shining the light on one of the more troubling human-rights issues of our time. Baby Sellers — also produced by Robert Halmi Sr. — follows the hunt to take down an international child-trafficking ring in which newborns are bought or stolen from disadvantaged parents and given to adoptive parents who often have no idea what had to happen for them to get those children. Kirstie Alley plays the head of the U.S.-based adoption agency that seems very innocent and law-abiding, but is in fact brutally ruthless [...]

The post “Baby Sellers”: Lifetime movie shines a light on child trafficking appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.

Exclusive: Lifetime has greenlighted Babysellers, a two-hour original movie about the dark international crime enterprise of infant trafficking under the guise of seemingly regulated adoption. Executive produced by veteran longform producer Robert Halmi Sr, Babysellers is a follow-up to his praised 2005 Lifetime movie Human Trafficking, starring Mira Sorvino, Donald Sutherland and Robert Carlyle, as the films tackle a cause Halmi has been very passionate about. Babysellers stars Kirstie Alley and Jennifer Finnigan. Alley plays Carla Hughes, a well-respected, influential owner of a major U.S.-based adoption agency that helps prospective parents fulfill their dream of having a family. While presenting an innocent veneer of kindness and good intentions to her trusting clients, behind-the-scenes Hughes functions as a ruthless international kingpin, controlling an expansive syndicate spanning the world and manned by subordinates authorized to use any means necessary to procure children for her business. Finnigan plays Nic Kingman, the dedicated,...

Genre: Documentary| Sci-Fi

Air Date/Time: Monday, December 10 at 9/8c (Two Hour Special)

Network: Syfy

Summary: Happy Birthday, Syfy! On Monday, December 10 at 9Pm (Et/Pt), the Channel will celebrate two decades of award-winning, imaginative entertainment programming during the star-studded Syfy 20th Anniversary Special.

From iconic series such as Farscape, Battlestar Galactica and Warehouse 13 to Ghost Hunters, Face Off and the upcoming transmedia experience Defiance, the special will look back on Syfy’s launch and evolution, and ahead to the future through the personal, behind-the-scenes insights of the creative talent themselves.

In the two-hour telecast, a wide range of actors, directors and producers will share their memories of popular scripted shows including Alphas, Battlestar Galactica, Being Human, Caprica, Defiance, Eureka, Farscape, Haven, Lost Girl, Sanctuary, Stargate: SG1 and Warehouse 13.

Showcasing a treasure trove of memorable clips, the special will feature interviews with the hosts of the hit unscripted programs Destination Truth,...

Syfy has now (finally) ordered a pilot for the adaptation of young adult sci-fi book The Lotus Caves to be entitled High Moon, executive produced by Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies, Mockingbird Lane) and Robert Halmi Sr (Treasure Island, Neverland). We’ve been telling you about this project since April 2010, and it was part of Syfy‘s upfront presentation back in April of this year.

Deadline broke the news last night, reporting that it was expected to begin production in Vancouver this fall. “This is a fresh and compelling vision of an exotic new world driven by character, intrigue and greed,” Syfy’s president original content Mark Stern said.

Here’s what Syfy said about the project back in April:

High Moon – Based on the novel, The Lotus Caves, by John Christopher, this imaginative, out-of-this-world series explores a world where the countries of Earth have established colonies to mine the Moon’s resources.

The last time we reported on Syfy’s adaptation of John Christopher’s “The Lotus Caves” book, we thought Syfy was looking at a movie, or mini-series. Turns out, they’re looking at turning it into an ongoing series, and have made the first move by ordering a pilot from producers Bryan Fuller and Robert Halmi Sr. Jim Danger Gray, who worked with Fuller on the critically acclaimed but one-year wonder “Pushing Daisies”, will write the 90-minute pilot, which is expected to begin production in Vancouver this fall. Wow. That’s fast. Have they even cast this thing yet? “High Moon” is set in the future and on the moon, where colonies have been established and now mine the rock for resources. The Christopher books follow two young boys who live in one of the colonies, who inadvertently stumble across an alien life form in the caves of the moon.

Syfy sure is on a roll as we have a third new project to fill you cats in on! The network has handed out a pilot order for "High Moon," an adaptation of John Christopher’s cult 1969 young-adult sci-fi novel The Lotus Caves.

Deadline reports that veteran longform producer Robert Halmi Sr. and "Pushing Daisies" creator creator Bryan Fuller ("Hannibal") executive produce the project, written/executive produced by Jim Danger Gray ("Pushing Daisies"). Canadian-based Reunion Pictures is producing the 90-minute pilot which is expected to begin production in Vancouver this fall. Reunion Pictures’ Matthew O’Connor, Lisa Richardson and Tom Rowe also exec produce.

"High Moon," which had been in development at Syfy for two years, creates a future where the countries of Earth have established colonies to mine the Moon’s resources. When a new life form is discovered, chaos erupts as various factions race to uncover and exploit its powerful secrets.

Syfy is getting into business with three prolific auteurs: M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense), Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies).

The cable network has given a put-pilot commitment to Proof, a drama co-written and exec produced by Shyamalan and Noxon and directed by Shyamalan, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Video | Is Pushing Daisies Bound for Broadway?

The project — which marks Shyamalan’s first stab at scripted television — follows the son of a billionaire tech genius who, after the unexpected passing of his parents, offers up a big financial reward to anyone who can find proof of life after death.

Exclusive: Syfy has handed out a pilot order to High Moon, an adaptation of John Christopher’s cult 1969 young-adult sci-fi novel The Lotus Caves. Veteran longform producer Robert Halmi Sr. and Pushing Daisies creator creator Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) executive produce the project, written/executive produced by Jim Danger Gray (Pushing Daisies). Canadian-based Reunion Pictures is producing the 90-minute pilot which is expected to begin production in Vancouver this fall. Reunion Pictures’ Matthew O’Connor, Lisa Richardson and Tom Rowe also exec produce. High Moon, which had been in development at Syfy for two years, creates a future where the countries of Earth have established colonies to mine the Moon’s resources. When a new life form is discovered, chaos erupts as various factions race to uncover and exploit its powerful secrets. “This is a fresh and compelling vision of an exotic new world driven by character, intrigue and greed,” Syfy...

As we have been telling you, there is a new Treasure Island ahead for us this Saturday on Syfy, who is showing the four-hour miniseries all in one night. More about that below. This version bears little resemblance to any recent pirate movie, other than the ship, ocean, and island involvement. We’ll have a review for you a little later.

For now, check out what star Eddie Izzard (Riches, Oceans 13, Mockingbird Lane), Executive Producer Robert Halmi Sr. of Rhi (Tin Man, Alice, Neverland), and Syfy Executive Vice President of Programming and Movies Thomas Vitale had to say about the production, during a recent Q&A session with the media, including SciFi Mafia. They started the session with a brief statement by Mr. Halmi:

Robert Halmi Sr.: I first saw Treasure Island in 1935 in Budapest, I was 11 years old. The movie actually was made in ’34, but it took a year to get to Budapest,...

This Saturday, Syfy will be airing both parts of the very popular British TV updated adaptation of Treasure Island, produced by Rhi, the same company that brought us Tin Man, Alice, and Neverland. It ain’t no Disney version, that’s for sure:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood

And Donald Sutherland Lead All Star Cast In Syfy’S

New Adaptation Of Treasure Island

Premieres Saturday, May 5 From 7-11Pm In

Special One Night Movie Event

New York – March 21, 2012 – In a special, one night only movie event, Syfy will present a fresh, new spin on the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed will premiere Saturday, May 5 from 7-11Pm (Et/Pt) on Syfy.

Izzard (The Riches, Oceans 12) stars as Long John Silver,...

‘Hellraiser: The Series’ is now being developed for television by Sonar Entertainment and executive producer Larry Kupin, Variety is reporting. Kupin, who will bring the series to television, works for New World, the company that released ‘Hellraiser’ and ‘Hellbound: Hellraiser II.’ According to Sonar, ‘Hellraiser: The Series’ will honor and follow the successful film series and its villain, Pinhead. The antagonist is summoned from an underworld by an ancient puzzle box. He seduces people with power and tempts them with fear, until their soul belongs to him. The announcement of ‘Hellraiser: The Series’ comes after Sonar went through bankruptcy and the departure of its founder, Robert Halmi Sr. Stewart Till [ Read More ]...

Rhi Entertainment Inc. has rebranded as Sonar Entertainment Inc. and appointed Stewart Till CEO, board chairman Gabriel de Alba announced at Miptv in Cannes. The company also unveiled a package of disaster-themed and other miniseries, regular series and and a quartet of two-hour TV movies. Following the departure of Robert Halmi Jr. last summer, Till had served as co-interim CEO with Mike Corrigan and David Salzman. Robert Halmi Sr. exited in February. De Alba described Till as “the ideal executive to lead Sonar into the future.” Till added that “We have spent many months preparing for this moment and I am excited to say that we are hitting the ground running with a number of major programming announcements – and more to come shortly.” From the release: • Disaster Pack, Volume One – Sonar will distribute five four-hour mini-series, all with disaster themes. These include Category 8 (the sun’s inner core sends massive...

With such a great cast, I must admit my expectations are exceptionally and excitedly high. Syfy will be premiering its four-hour Treasure Island on one night, May 5, so make sure you have your evening clear. Starring Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit), Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games), , and Eddie Izzard (Mockingbird Lane), I really can’t wait to see this.

Here’s the press release:

Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood And Donald Sutherland Lead All Star Cast In Syfy’S New Adaptation Of Treasure Island

Premieres Saturday, May 5 From 7-11Pm In Special One Night Movie Event

New York – March 21, 2012 – In a special, one night only movie event, Syfy will present a fresh, new spin on the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed will premiere Saturday,...

So happy and yet so sad at the same time. Syfy has just announced its spring schedule, and surprise! The final season of fan favorite Eureka will premiere not in the summer as it usually does, but on April 16. The sooner the better, we say, and we can’t wait.

According to the announcement there are some great shows coming our way, including the second season of Lost Girl, a Treasure Island miniseries, the premieres of Monster Man, Dream Machines, and Total Blackout, the return of Ghost Hunters, Hollywood Treasure, and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, and of course some Saturday Original Movies. Here are the details:

Syfy’S Spring 2012 To Feature More Original Series And Original Hours Of Programming Than Any Spring Season In Channel’S History

February 16, 2012

Syfy’S Spring 2012 To Feature More Original Series And Original Hours Of Programming Than Any Spring Season In Channel’S History...

Emmy-winning producer Robert Halmi Sr. is leaving Rhi Entertainment, the production company he founded, to start a new one -- at 88 years old. Rhi has produced hundreds of TV movies and miniseries, from epics ("Gulliver's Travels," "The Ten Commandments,") to biographies ("The Josephine Baker Story"), new versions of classic films ("The Land of Oz,") and, in recent years, the low-budget monster movies that crowd SyFy's schedule. One of its most recent hits was the Oz-inspired 2007 miniseries "Tin Man" on SyFy. Haimi founded the company in 1979 sold it in 1994...

It is finally the end of an era at Rhi Entertainment. Robert Halmi Sr., 88, is exiting the company he founded in 1979. The announcement was made Friday by Gabriel de Alba, chairman of the Rhi board. The company - which produced made-for-tv movies and miniseries including Lonesome Dove, Neverland, The Santa Incident and the 2007 Sci Fi Channel mini Tin Man - has had its share of ups and downs. Halmi Sr. and his son, Robert Halmi Jr., sold Rhi to Hallmark in 1994 and then bought the company back in 2006. But they were bogged down by too much

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At age 88, Robert Halmi Sr is starting anew. The Emmy-winning producer of TV movies and mini-series is leaving Rhi Entertainment, Inc., the company he founded 33 years ago with his son Robert Halmi Jr as Robert Halmi Inc. Since then, the company’s productions have won more than 100 Emmys and built a library of more than 1,000 titles. But it’s been a bumpy road for the last few years. The Halmis sold their company to Hallmark in 1994 and bought it back in 2006, but took on too much debt and eventually declared bankruptcy. Additionally, the broad, big-event movies and miniseries that were at the core of Halmis’ business went out of fashion at the major networks. Eventually, after emerging from court protection in March 2011, Halmi Jr left and Halmi Sr inked a long-term deal. Now, Halmi Sr is leaving too. The Hungarian immigrant plans to launching a NY-based production venture to continue...

SyFy and Rhi Entertainment is taking on a new television adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, Treasure Island. This television movie is off to a great start with the casting of Elijah Wood (Wilfred, Lord of the Rings) as Ben Gunn, Donald Sutherland (The Pillars of the Earth, Dirty Sexy Money) as Flint, and Eddie Izzard (United States of Tara, Mystery Men) as Long John Silver.

Toby Regbo will play Jim Hawkins and Phillip Glenister, Rupert-Penry-Jones, David Harewood and Keith Allen have also been cast in Treasure Island. The project set to film in Puerto Rice and Ireland. Check out the press release for more details below:

“Treasure Island,” the special two-part movie event from Rhi Entertainment, will premiere on Syfy, the home of imagination-based entertainment, in early 2012. The production stars Eddie Izzard (“The Riches,” “Oceans 12,” “Oceans 13″) as Long John Silver. Elijah Wood (“The Lord of the Rings,” “Everything Is Illuminated...

 

Both Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland have been cast in Syfy's adaptation of the Robert Lois Stevenson classic tale, Treasure Island.  

Wood will play Ben Gunn and Sutherland will play Flint. They join Eddie Izzard who takes on the role of Long John Silver and rounding out the cast so far are Toby Regbo, Phillip Glenister, Rupert-Penry-Jones, David Harewood and Keith Allen.

Robert Halmi Sr. of Rhi Entertainment, Alan Moloney for Parallel Films. Mark Grenside for Mng Films; Melanie Stokes and Anne Brogan for Kindle Entertainment and Annie Harrison-Baxter for Sky serve as executive producers. That's a who's who of producers people! We'll have more on this soon!

Source: Elijah Wood, Donald Sutherland to Star in Syfy's 'Treasure Island' (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/elijah-wood-donald-sutherland-star-95686?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/television+(The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Television)&utm_content=Google+Reader)...

SyFy has announced that they will begin production on a new TV movie called Neverland, which will be a four-hour prequel to the story of Peter Pan.  It's being written and directed by Nick Willing, who worked on Syfy's Tin Man and Alice, which were reimaginings of The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.

Synopsis:

Sweeping in time from the turbulent seas of the pirates of the Caribbean to the back alleys of Dickensian London to a world of pure imagination, "Neverland" is the inspired origin story of one of the most cherished characters of all time, Peter Pan.

Raised on the streets of turn-of-the century London, orphaned Peter (Rowe) and his pals survive by their fearless wits as cunning young pickpockets. Now, they've been rounded up by their mentor Jimmy Hook (Ifans) to snatch a priceless--some believe, magical--treasure which transports them to another world. Neverland is a...

Syfy has announced that it will premiere Alice, its four-hour-long updated retelling of Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Alice Through the Looking Glass,' on Sunday, December 6th. The conclusion of the two-part miniseries will air the following day. The announcement was made by Mark Stern, Syfy's Executive Vice President of Original Programming, during the channel's Vancouver Press Tour.

Alice stars Caterina Scorsone as Alice Hamilton, a young, martial arts instructor, who finds her way to a parallel universe called Wonderland after her boyfriend is taken there by mysterious, well-dressed men called 'Suits'. This is not the Wonderland of Carroll's 'Alice' stories, though. Under the direction of Nick Willing, who also helmed Syfy's Emmy-winning miniseries Tin Man, the modernized Wonderland is presented as an oppressive and surreal place where people are kept in check by being fed positive human emotions drained from gamblers trapped in a casino.

Producer Robert Halmi Sr., who celebrates his 85th birthday today, is getting a belated gift. On Sunday, his latest big-budget miniseries, "The Last Templar," premieres on NBC, marking his return to the Big Three broadcast networks after a three-year absence.

The year 2009 is special in another way: It's been 30 years since his first TV movie, "My Old Man," premiered on CBS. But instead of planning a celebration, Halmi -- the Hungarian-born former photographer who emigrated to the U.S. in 1950 with $5 in his pocket and a still camera around his neck -- is busy ramping up a slate of miniseries.

It includes three projects for Sci Fi Channel that have been greenlighted for production: "The Phantom," "Riverworld" and "Alice," a contemporary retelling of "Alice in Wonderland."

Halmi also has a couple of minis in development at ABC, including "Planet Earth Conspiracy," a globe-spanning drama tackling climate change, and a possible...

Movie Jungle has new clips in from NBC Entertainment's "The Last Templar," starring Mira Sorvino, Scott Foley, Victor Garber, Claudia Ferri, Larry Day, Anthony Lemke, Mark Antony Krupa and Don Jordan. Paulo Barzman ("Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde") directs the film. Suzette Couture writes the revised version of the screenplay based on the novel by Raymond Khoury. Airs on Sunday and Monday, January 25 and 26 (9-11 p.m. Et).In this four-hour miniseries, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite," "Mimic") stars in an epic action-adventure tale about the greatest mystery of modern time. As the journey begins, Tess Chaykin (Sorvino), a Manhattan archaeologist, reluctantly teams up with FBI agent Sean Daley (Scott Foley, "The Unit," "Felicity") – and the pair are drawn into a fast-paced, romantic adventure as they attempt to uncover the lost secrets of the legendary medieval Knights Templar. The miniseries also features Victor Garber ("Eli Stone," "Alias") as Monsignor De Angelis,...

Toronto -- Lou Diamond Phillips has joined the U.S. Sci Fi Channel TV movie "Carny" from Muse Entertainment and Brava Pictures to shoot in Ottawa, it was announced Wednesday.

Phillips will play a small-town sheriff up against a revengeful beast that escapes from a visiting carnival sideshow.

Rhi Entertainment holds the international rights to "Carny," which also will air on the Super Channel in Canada.

Muse Entertainment's Michael Prupas and Rhi Entertainment's Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. share the executive producer credits.

Sci Fi Channel has inked a deal with RHI Entertainment for five original movies, including an Afghanistan-set telefilm starring Jason Gedrick.

The license agreement includes basic cable rights for the U.S. TV premieres of five new horror and thriller projects. Production is set to begin shortly in Romania on three of the movies:

-- "Sand Serpents," starring Gedrick, follows American combat soldiers in the Afghan desert who battle the Taliban and a horde of giant carnivorous serpents.

-- "Alien Western" is set in an Old West town in the 1890s where monstrous buglike machines from another world attack.

-- "Carney," based on the Jersey Devil legend, where a fiendish carnival side-show attraction escapes and terrorizes a Depression-era Mid-Atlantic town.

Also part of the deal are two previously announced movies: "Hellhounds," directed by Ricky Schroder, and "Rise of the Gargoyle," starring Eric Balfour. Those two just wrapped production on location in Romania.

Ricky Schroder has signed to direct "Hellhounds," a telefilm that will air next year on Sci Fi Channel.

The movie, set in 500 B.C., stars Scott Elrod ("Men in Trees") as Kleitos, a Greek warrior who with his companions fights against the hellhounds of Hades to rescue his bride from the Underworld and bring her back to life. The telefilm, written by Paul A. Birkett, is said to be full of CGI and special effects.

"Hellhounds," which begins shooting Sunday in Romania, is a co-production between Canada's Muse Entertainment and Romania's S.C. Studiourile Media Pro. Muse's Michael Prupas will executive produce along with Rhi Entertainment's Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. Rhi will distribute.

Schroder said the project is his fifth with the Halmis, following January's "Journey to the Center of the Earth," which aired on Ion Television.

"Twenty years ago, the Halmis and I collaborated on 'Lonesome Dove,...

Eric Balfour has been tapped to star in "Rise of the Gargoyle," a two-hour telefilm that will air on Sci Fi Channel.

The telefilm, which Rhi Entertainment is distributing internationally, centers on an ancient gargoyle monster whose terror is unleashed in modern-day Paris.

Balfour ("24") stars as Jack Richmond, a struggling author whose outlandish theories on pagan architecture make him the laughingstock of the academic world. But when Jack finds himself face to face in a demolished church with a live version of the stone gargoyles he's devoted his life to studying, no one believes his story.

"Gargoyle" co-stars Caroline Neron, Jason Salinger, Nick Mancuso and Tanya Clarke. The movie, said to be full of CGI and special effects, is shooting through month's end in Romania.

The telefilm, a co-production of Canada's Muse Entertainment and Romania's Mediapro Studios, is executive produced by Rhi's Robert Halmi Sr. and Muse's Michael Prupas.

Bill Corcoran is directing the telefilm, while Pierre Jodoin is the director of photography. Francois Sylvestre and Andreea Stanculeanu are producing.

TORONTO -- Bruce Dern and Cindy Sampson are toplining the telefilm Swamp Devil, now filming in Montreal, Canadian producer Muse Entertainment said Wednesday.

Dern plays a small town's ex-sherrif, who must prove a swamp devil exists to escape a murder charge, while Sampson plays his estranged daughter returning home to help her father.

David Winning is directing Swamp Devil from a script penned by Ethlie Ann Vare and Gary Dauberma, while Irene Litinsky and Ric Nish share producer credits.

Michael Prupas of Muse is executive producing along with Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr., whose RHI Entertainment shingle will sell the property internationally.

The telefilm already has been sold to SuperChannel, the upstart Canadian premium pay TV channel.

Swamp Devil will shoot in Montreal until Oct. 17.

Smallville alum Eric Johnson has landed the title role in Sci Fi Channel's upcoming series Flash Gordon.

The 22-hour series, a contemporary take on the popular comic strip franchise, is slated for an August premiere. It will feature Johnson as space traveler Flash Gordon embarking on all-new adventures.

Peter Hume penned the first two episodes, which will be directed by Rick Rosenthal (Smallville). Production is to begin May 1 in Vancouver.

Flash is being produced by Reunion Pictures under an agreement with property owner King Features Syndicate. RHI Entertainment is distributing the series internationally. RHI's Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr., who recently worked with Sci Fi on the miniseries Legend of Earthsea, are executive producing, with Hume also expected to exec produce. Matthew O'Connor and Tom Rowe will serve as producers.

Casting is under way for the other roles, including Flash Gordon's fellow space travelers Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov.

The Flash Gordon comic strip was created in 1934 by Alex Raymond and is being distributed internationally by King Features.

Robert Halmi Jr. and Robert Halmi Sr. have completed their re-acquisition of Hallmark Entertainment, which they will rename RHI Entertainment, from Hallmark Cards. The Halmis bought back full ownership of the production company with private investment firm Kelso & Co.; JPMorgan is leading the financing of the transaction. Hallmark Cards originally purchased the company from the Halmis in 1994.

The father-and-son producing team of Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. are parting ways with Hallmark Cards. Eleven years after the two sold their production company of TV movies and miniseries to the greetings card giant, they have teamed with private investment firm Kelso & Co. to buy back Hallmark Entertainment Llc. The transaction, which is being spearheaded by Halmi Jr., is expected to close early next month. When that happens, the company will go back to its old name, RHI Entertainment. "For the past 11 years it has been an honor to work with Hallmark Cards, as they have been a tremendous and supportive partner," said Halmi Jr., Hallmark Entertainment president and CEO. "Now the time has come for us to start a new chapter with the flexibility afforded to an independent entertainment company, which will facilitate better service to our clients."...

ABC and producer Robert Halmi Sr. have lined up an international cast led by Dougray Scott, Omar Sharif, Naveen Andrews, Mia Maestro and Linus Roache for The Ten Commandments, a big-budget four-hour miniseries that retells the classic biblical tale of Moses. Production on the Hallmark Entertainment special effects extravaganza, whose budget is estimated at more than $20 million, is slated to begin May 23 in Ouarzazate, Morocco. The premiere of the two-part epic, written by Ron Hutchinson after months of biblical and historical research, is targeted for next season. Robert Dornhelm is directing the project, which will present the story of Moses and the Israelites' exodus from Egypt in 13th century B.C. (HR 1/13). Halmi is exec producing. Scott, who worked with ABC and Halmi on Arabian Nights, will portray Moses.

ABC is teaming with veteran TV movie producer Robert Halmi Sr. for The Ten Commandments, a four-hour miniseries that will retell the classic biblical tale of Moses and the Ten Commandments.The Hallmark Entertainment special-effects extravaganza, whose budget is estimated at more than $20 million, will be written by Ron Hutchinson (USA Network's Traffic), with Robert Dornhelm (USA's Spartacus) on board to direct. Halmi is quick to point out that the mini will not be a remake of Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 movie starring Charlton Heston but will rely on extensive biblical and historical research for a realistic, truthful presentation of Moses and the Jewish people's exodus from Egypt and their travel to Mt. Sinai, where, according to the Old Testament, God descended to deliver the Ten Commandments.

ABC held on to its Sunday night ratings crown even with its regular lineup benched for the three-hour original telepic The Five People You Meet in Heaven. The telepic based on the best seller by Mitch Albom averaged 19.3 million viewers and a 6.5 rating/15 share in the adults 18-49 demographic from 8-11 p.m., according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. Five People couldn't match the Nielsen firepower of ABC's regular occupants of the 8 and 9 p.m. slots -- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and new hit Desperate Housewives -- but it was a more than healthy showing for the telefilm that was heavily promoted by ABC. Viewership of Five People peaked from 9-9:30 p.m. (which normally would be the first half-hour of Housewives) at 20.3 million viewers and a 7.0/16 in the key demo; the Robert Halmi Sr.-produced movie also spiked from its lead-in, a special 7 p.m. repeat of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (9.9 million, 3.4/9).

Hallmark Entertainment is beefing up its slate of high-profile projects for the upcoming TV season. At NBC, Hallmark has received a green light for Hercules, a four-hour miniseries budgeted at more than $20 million. Meanwhile, Oscar winner Jon Voight is set to topline Hallmark's three-hour movie adaptation of Mitch Albom's Five People You Meet in Heaven for ABC, with Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, Jeff Daniels and Michael Imperioli on board to co-star. The two projects join Hallmark's Kelsey Grammer-starring musical for NBC, A Christmas Carol, all three executive produced by Robert Halmi Sr. Charles Pogue (Dragonheart) is on board to pen Hercules, with Emmy-winning director Roger Young set to helm.