'Flintstones' putting wind in Turner's sails
The announcement came Monday at the Mip-TV market in Cannes, where the Turner international operation is cutting a high profile.
Turner said it's negotiating sales with international broadcasters for two specials from the Hanna-Barbera stable --"Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby" and "A Flintstone Family Christmas." The company also is providing a range of cross-promotional activity, a slew of Flintstone videos, a book series from Bedrock Press and more than 500 products from the Turner licensing & merchandising division.
"'The Flintstones' holds thehonor of being the longest-running animated TV series in history and continues to air in syndication in 74 countries worldwide, " said Michael Byrd, senior VP, international syndication, Turner Intl.
Turner Network Television and Village Roadshow Pictures confirmed that they are teaming to produce "The Fatal Shore," a four-hour miniseries dramatizing the settling of the epic Oz frontier.
The announcement of the link-up with Village Roadshow was made by Laurie Pozmantier, TNT VP of program development and co-production, and Nick McMahon, managing director, Village Roadshow Pictures. The film adaptation of Robert Hughes' bestseller will chronicle Australia's history from the mid-1700s, when England first exiled prisoners to the distant isle.
Also within the co-production area, Turner Pictures has just committed to a plan to film two more projects based on Old Testament Bible stories.
"Jacob," with Matthew Modine to topline, and "Joseph" are both in pre-production for Turner Pictures, in partnership with Lux, the Italian indie production house, Italo pubcaster RAI and Germany's Beta Television.
The decision to continue the series on TNT comes on the heels of the miniseries "Abraham," which performed well for the cable channel over Easter.
Sir Peter Hall will direct Turner Pictures' two-hour film adaptation of the story of Isaac's second son Jacob (Modine), who conspires with his mother Rebekah (Irene Papas) to cheat his brother Esau (Sean Bean) out of his birthright.
Director Roger Young will chronicle the trials and ultimate triumph of Joseph , the favored son of Jacob and Rachel.
