Starz Greenlights Crash Series

Starz has greenlit Crash as its first original drama series. Based on the Oscar-winning feature, the 13-episode series, co-produced with Lionsgate TV, is slated to debut on the John Malone-backed pay cabler this year. Key members of the team behind the gritty, racially charged film are on board for the series, including director/co-writer/producer Paul Haggis, co-writer and producer Bobby Moresco, producer Bob Yari, producer Don Cheadle, producer Mark R. Harris and executive producer Tom Nunan. If his schedule allows, Cheadle might reprise his role on the series as well as direct.

The order for Crash follows the recent launch of Starz’s first original series – the comedies Head Case and Hollywood Residential. While Starz brass had stated plans to develop lower-cost original series as a complement to the channel’s movie packages, that won’t be the case with Crash.