KRISTANNA LOKEN TURNS SUPERHERO
'Terminator 3' Star Tapped As Series Lead in 'Painkiller Jane'
SCI FI's New Superhero Series To Premiere Spring 2007
New York, NY - October 20, 2006 - SCI FI Channel has cast Kristanna Loken ('Terminator 3') in the title role of its new superhero actioner 'Painkiller Jane.' Production on 22 one-hour episodes of the series, produced by Insight Film Studios, in association with Starz Media and Kickstart Comic Arts Studio, will begin in Vancouver next month.
Based on the comic book created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada, 'Painkiller Jane' is the story of Jane Vasko (Loken), a DEA agent who is recruited by a covert government organization tasked with capturing "Neuros" - genetically-enhanced individuals who possess superhuman powers of the mind. During the course of her first investigation with the team, Jane inexplicably discovers that she too possesses extraordinary abilities - abilities that render her impervious to injury�but not pain. She develops miraculous regenerative powers, healing from every injury and finding herself stronger than she had been before. As she continues to work with the government to hunt Neuros, Jane tries to uncover the cause of her own transformation and what - if any - connection she shares with the very people she is pursuing.
'Painkiller Jane' is executive produced by showrunner Gil Grant (24, NCIS). Loken will serve as co-executive producer. The series is slated to premiere on SCI FI in Spring 2007, followed by a domestic broadcast weekly syndication window in Fall 2007. Starz Media will handle U.S. DVD and syndication sales, as well as distribution to key worldwide markets. Additional casting is currently underway.
Best known for starring opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger as the dangerously beautiful 'TX' (Terminatrix) in 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines' for Warner Bros., Loken last appeared in theaters as 'Rayne' in the feature film adaptation of the highly popular video game, BloodRayne. She also starred in SCI FI's successful miniseries 'Dark Kingdom' in March 2006 and recently completed filming 'Dungeon Siege: In The Name of the King,' starring alongside Burt Reynolds, Claire Forlani and Matthew Lillard, among others. Loken also produced the independent film 'Lime Salted Love,' in which she also stars.
Loken will appear as a guest star on the 2007 season of Showtime's critically-acclaimed The L Word. She is represented by Eddy Yablans and Lisa Gallant at ICM and managed by Miles Levy of James Levy Management.
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Insight Film Studios is Canada's largest independent production company. The company's award winning team of 70 full-time and 150 part-time associates produces a diverse production resume including feature films, dramatic television series, made-for-TV movies, as well as, documentary and lifestyle television. For further information on Insight Film Studios please visit www.insightfilm.com
Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming -- including theatrical films -- and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group, www.starz.com.
SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com ) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 86 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.
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