Spike TV orders "Blade" series

Spike TV Green Lights 'Blade' for Series

New Line Television to Produce Series Based on Popular Marvel Super
Hero; Production Set to Begin This Spring in Vancouver Series to
Premiere in June 2006

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 -- Spike TV has given the green-light for a
television series based on Marvel Super Hero "Blade" as the network's
first original scripted series. The network has ordered 11 one-hour
episodes, in addition to the previously announced two-hour kick-off
episode, to be produced by New Line Television, set to commence
production in Vancouver this spring. "Blade" premieres in June 2006.

"We're extremely pleased with the pilot for 'Blade,' which delivers a
thrilling action-adventure for its built-in fan base as well as a
character- driven drama filled with heart-pounding tension and
suspense," says Pancho Mansfield, Executive Vice President, Original
Programming at Spike TV. "The series will be the first of our scripted
fare as we embark on creating a greater mix of original programming
for our viewers."

"Blade" focuses on Marvel's eponymous immortal warrior fighting a
shadowy underworld of vampires who want to destroy the human race. The
title character is a half-man, half-vampire who uses his superhuman
powers and skills to fearlessly battle the demonic creatures of the
night in a blood- drenched crusade to prevent the ascendance of
vampires over mankind.

The Spike TV weekly series will maintain continuity from the highly
successful movie trilogy but will bring the main character into a new
storyline with new characters.

Kirk "Sticky" Jones ("Over There") stars in the leading role of
"Blade." Kirk Jones first became widely known as "Sticky Fingaz," the
front man for the hip-hop group Onyx. He later appeared and starred in
a number of feature films including Clockers, Dead Presidents and
Flight of the Phoenix. Most recently, Jones appeared regularly on FX's
"Over There" and "The Shield." Rounding out the series cast are Jill
Wagner ("Monk"), Neil Jackson ("Stargate SG-1"), Nelson Lee
("Traffic," the TV mini-series) and Jessica Gower ("Blurred").

Acclaimed screenwriter and executive producer David S. Goyer ("Blade"
trilogy and "Batman Begins") and popular comic book writer Geoff Johns
who worked on the "Blade" tele-movie, have also signed on for the
series production. The tele-movie is directed by Peter O'Fallon
("Suicide Kings," "American Gothic").

Bill McGoldrick, Vice President, Original Programming and Lisa
Ullmann, Director of Original Programming, are executives responsible
for production at Spike TV. Avi Arad, Chairman and CEO of Marvel
Studios, Ari Arad, Executive Vice President, Marvel Studios, Jim
Rosenthal and Jon Kroll of New Line Television will serve as executive
producers.

New Line Television is a division of New Line Cinema
(http://www.newline.com), the most successful independent film company
in the world. The division develops, produces and distributes TV
projects for the broadcast networks, cable and first-run syndication,
as well as distributes New Line feature films across the television
landscape. In addition to the production, marketing and distribution
of theatrical motion pictures, New Line Cinema has divisions devoted
to home entertainment, music, theater, merchandising and
international. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New Line's
Oscar-winning "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is one of the most
successful film franchises in history. New Line is a division of Time
Warner, Inc.

With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is
one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment
companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character
franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of
emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products,
video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and
promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of
comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character
franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. More
information about Marvel can be found at http://www.marvel.com.

Super Hero(es) is a co-owned registered trademark. Marvel and Blade
are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. and are used under license.

SOURCE Spike TV
Web Site: http://www.spiketv.com http://www.marvel.com
http://www.newline.com
.

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