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Zap2It.comShowtime Hires Horror Heavyweights for 'Masters' Anthology
(Wednesday, March 30 09:16 AM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Dario Argento ("Suspiria"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Larry Cohen ("It's Alive"), Roger Corman ("Little Shop of Horrors"), Don Coscarelli ("Phantasm"), Joe Dante ("The Howling"), Mick Garris ("The Stand"), Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator"), John Landis ("An American Werewolf in London"), Tobe Hooper ("Texas Chainsaw Massacre") and George Romero ("Night of the Living Dead") are responsible for some of the scariest scenes ever put on film. Now, these esteemed pioneers of modern horror cinema are just some of the directors hand-picked for Showtime's new anthology series "Masters of Horror."
Showtime has ordered 13 one-hour films, which will be overseen by Garris, who helped assemble the directors and will serve as series showrunner.
"Showtime is thrilled to be working with this roster of filmmakers, all of whom have contributed significantly to the horror and suspense genre," says Showtime Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt. "The title is truly appropriate since Mick Garris and his fellow directors simply are the "masters of horror."
He adds, "It's hard to really scare the audience these days, but I guarantee that these guys will really do just that."
Many of the directors are expected to work from their own screenplays, but outside talent -- including Richard C. Matheson ("Tales from the Crypt") and comic creator Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night") -- will also do some writing. IDT Entertainment's New Arc Entertainment, Industry Entertainment and Nice Guy Productions will produce the series.
"These are the stories the directors have always wanted to tell; but until now, the right venue had not existed," says Andrew Deane, a partner in Industry. "Showtime is the perfect partner given the filmmakers' belief that, in order to deliver something truly terrifying, they need as much creative freedom as possible and for their films to be free of commercial interruption."
Production on the first six hours is set to begin in late April in Vancouver. Among the early offerings will be Landis' "Deer Woman," starring Brian Benben and Argento's "Jenifer" with Steven Weber.[/b]