Turner, MGM team on 'Pink Panther'

Duo to produce new half-hour series

By DANIEL FRANKEL

'Pink Panther & Pals'

Turner Broadcasting and MGM Worldwide TV plan to produce a new half-hour animated Pink Panther series for Cartoon Network.

Twenty-six episodes of "Pink Panther & Pals" -- which will feature the iconic panther as a rambunctious teenager who gets into shenanigans with his friends -- are slated to run on the cabler starting in fall 2009.

Series will be jointly produced by MGM and Jordanian animation and multimedia company Rubicon, with production split between Los Angeles and Amman.

David Corbett will exec produce.

MGM plans to launch a licensing initiative around the series, targeting apparel, stationery, toys, publishing and interactive games. The retail launch of this merchandise is slated for late 2009.