NBC has announced the directors, writers and stars of its upcoming new suspense and horror anthology series âFear Itselfâ from Lionsgate and Industry Entertainment:
A host of provocative directors, actors and writers â including award-winning directors John Landis (âAn American Werewolf in Londonâ), Darren Bousman (âSaw II, III and IVâ), Ronny Yu (âFreddy vs. Jason,â âBride of Chuckyâ), Brad Anderson (âThe Machinistâ), Breck Eisner (upcoming Universal Pictures film âCreature from the Black Lagoonâ), Mary Harron (âAmerican Psychoâ), Stuart Gordon (âRe-Animatorâ) and Ernest Dickerson (NBCâs âHeroesâ) â have been signed for NBCâs âFear Itself,â a new 13-episode suspense and horror anthology series from Lionsgate in association with Industry Entertainment.
Brandon Routh (âSuperman Returnsâ), Shiri Appleby (âCharlie Wilsonâs Warâ), Elisabeth Moss (âMad Menâ), Cynthia Watros (âLostâ), Eric Roberts (NBCâs âHeroesâ), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterpriseâ), Russell Hornsby (âLincoln Heightsâ), Pablo Schreiber (âThe Wireâ), Stephen Lee (âBoston Legalâ), Stephen R. Hart (âShoot âEm Upâ), Jack Noseworthy (âJudging Amyâ) and Larry Gilliard Jr. (âThe Wireâ) are among the sought-after actors who will be portraying various characters in three episodes of the series.
Among the writers set are Joe Gangemi (âWind Chill,â the novel âInamorataâ), Steve Niles (â30 Days of Nightâ), Dan Knauf (âCarnivale,â âSupernaturalâ), Lem Dobbs (âThe Scoreâ), Matt Venne (âWhite Noise 2: The Lightâ), Richard Chizmar & Johnathan Schaech (âMasters of Horror,â âFrom a Buick 8â), Victor Salva (âJeepers Creepersâ), Mick Garris (âRiding the Bullet,â âAmazing Storiesâ), Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan (âMasters of Horrorâ), Kelly Kennemer (âThe Music Withinâ) and Max Landis (âMasters of Horrorâ).
The announcement was made today by Teri Weinberg, Executive Vice President, NBC Entertainment. âWeâve teamed up with some of the most illustrious writers, actors and directors to create a distinctive, scare-filled series that will push the boundaries of this classic genre,â said Weinberg. ââFear Itselfâ will deliver memorable and horrifying moments that will keep fans on the edge of their seats, begging for more on this fun-filled ride of terror.â
âWe and our partners at Industry Entertainment couldnât be happier about NBCâs enthusiastic support of âFear Itselfâ and the caliber of artists who have been drawn to the project,â said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgateâs President of Television Programming and Production. âOur goal is to offer audiences a fantastic thrill every week and weâve certainly got the all-star team to do it.â
âEater,â is directed by Stuart Gordon (âRe-Animator,â âMasters of Horrorâ) and written by Cemetery Dance Magazine publisher and editor Richard Chizmar (âFrom a Buick 8â) & actor Johnathon Schaech (âMasters of Horror,â âThat Thing You Do!â). A rookie cop (Moss) must spend her first night in the precinct watching over a serial killer, coined âThe Eaterâ (Stephen R. Hart, âShoot âEm Upâ). When her fellow cops start acting bizarre, she quickly learns that no one is who they seem. Russell Hornsby (âLincoln Heightsâ), Pablo Schreiber (âThe Wireâ) and Stephen Lee (âBoston Legalâ) also star.
âSpooked,â is directed by Brad Anderson (âThe Machinistâ) and written by Matt Venne (âWhite Noise 2: The Lightâ). While on a stake out in a haunted house, a private eye (Roberts) is made to confront the demons of his past. Jack Noseworthy (âJudging Amyâ), Cynthia Watros (âLostâ) and Larry Gilliard Jr. (âThe Wireâ) also star.
âCommunityâ is directed by Mary Harron (âAmerican Psycho,â âThe Notorious Betty Page,â âBig Loveâ) and written by Kelly Kennemer (âThe Music Withinâ). When a young married couple, played by Routh and Appleby, find the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, their lives seemâŚwellâŚperfect. But as the dark underbelly of their neighborhood creeps to the surface, they soon realize that their neighbors will go to any extreme â even murder â to make sure that they comply with their twisted sense of conformity. John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterpriseâ) also stars.
âRed Snowâ has a screenplay written by Mick Garris (âRiding the Bullet,â âAmazing Storiesâ), from a story by Del Howison (âDark Delicaciesâ). Breck Eisner (âCreature from the Black Lagoonâ) will direct. When four criminals find themselves stranded in an old, snow-covered fort, they slowly discover both the fort and the seductive trio of sirens who reside there are filled with deadly secrets.
âChanceâ is written by Lem Dobbs (âThe Scoreâ), with a director to be announced later. In the vein of such classic doppelganger stories as âJekyll & Hydeâ and Poeâs âWilliam Wilson,â the episode explores a dreadful, classic battle that ensues when a man is confronted by his evil self.
âNew Yearâs Dayâ will be directed by Darren Bousman (âSaw II, III and IVâ), and is written by Steve Niles (â30 Days of Nightâ) from a story by Paul Kane. A young woman wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by horrifying zombies.
âFamily Manâ will be directed by Ronny Yu (âFreddy vs. Jason,â âBride of Chuckyâ) and is written by Dan Knauf (âCarnivale,â âSupernaturalâ). This action-charged, psychological thriller focuses on a likeable family man who switches bodies with a serial killer after a near-death experience. Now, he must fight from behind bars to keep the murderer from adding his family to the long list of victims.
âSkin & Bonesâ is written by Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan (âMasters of Horrorâ) with a director to be announced later. When a cattle herder returns home to his family after being lost in the woods for days, he just doesnât seem the same. Soon, a terrible mortal struggle ensues against the terrifying monster possessing him.
âSomething With Biteâ is a reinvention of the classic werewolf story from writer Max Landis (âMasters of Horrorâ), the son of John Landis. Ernest Dickerson (NBCâs âHeroesâ) will direct.
In âNightmare in Lace,â John Landis (âAn American Werewolf in Londonâ) will direct an episode written by Victor Salva (âJeepers Creepersâ). On her wedding day, a beautiful bride receives a mysterious note that reads: âThe person you are marrying is a serial killer.â
The series is produced by Lionsgate in association with IE Indy TV, Industry Entertainmentâs newly formed independent television label, and was created by Mick Garris. The Emmy-winning team of Keith Addis and Andrew Deane (âMasters of Horrorâ) are the executive producers. Peter Block is co-executive producer; Grant Rosenberg is supervising producer; and Adam Goldworm, Ben Browning and Jonathan Hackett are producers.