Starz, Weinsteins, Electus on 'Marco Polo' trek

AlbrechtSilvermanB. WeinsteinH. WeinsteinStarz is joining up while using Weinstein Co. and Electus on new original series "Marco Polo," by getting a watch toward a premiere inside the partner of 2013. Harvey Weinstein developed the idea through conversations with Starz prexy/Boss Chris Albrecht, showing it to Electus topper Ben Silverman and making John Fusco ("Spirit: Stallion in the Cimarron") to produce the pilot. Known to love a personality-driven, fighting styles epic that will lense in China, Weinstein billed the series as "most likely probably the most pricey shows ever for pay TV.""Marco" will begin inside the fa-mous explorer's early years within the court docket of Kublai Khan. "It's a great challenge to accomplish and hopefully a legacy tv series,In . Weinstein told Variety, adding that "the fact (Fusco) had traveled the Silk Road and was familiar with Marco Polo was quite amazing,"The series might have facets of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" elements. "Clearly this is often a effective story that has European roots and Asian components which is naturally an international story," Silverman mentioned. It arranged in to the wheelhouse of Starz, which has featured such shows as "Spartacus" and "Camelot." A Ten-hour first season, plus a two-hour premiere, is planned."We've plenty of fascination with these semi-historic period pieces," Albrecht mentioned, "because In my opinion they may be a lot of fun and play well, but they should be not just a retelling of history. When Harvey found tell me it absolutely was 'Marco Polo as Indiana Manley,' that appears just like a very awesome idea."Silverman and Albrecht added that mixing by utilizing fighting styles plus an exotic location that television has rarely looked into aided seal the sale.InchIt's very ambitious," Silverman mentioned. "You need to produce a large epic series with visual trademarks that were not noticed in scripted television before."Fusco, Weinstein and Silverman will professional produce alongside Bob Weinstein. Producers are striving to begin principal shooting this summer season in China at two primary locations. The Marco Polo role might be the only real series regular who certainly are Whitened. "Lots of casting should be finished with Asian stars and hopefully Chinese stars," Albrecht mentioned, "because you need to get this authentic as you can.InchStarz Entertainment will own the exclusive license for the domestic premium pay TV rights and certain digital rights for the series for your Starz network, while Starz's Anchor Bay arm will distribute the house within the united states . States in homevideo. The Weinstein Co. and Electus Intl. control all remaining rights."Knowing the world marketplace additionally to production," Albrecht mentioned, "(Weinstein and Electus) set off and not develop the assets to accomplish this justice, however the associations in China that will hopefully let's perform a ongoing series in China, that's not the same as undertaking a theatrical movie for X volume of days. ... This really is pricey, however they have develop a great production team."Starz' next series premiere is an additional period piece, although an even more recent period: 1959-set "Miracle City," which bows April 6 with Mitch Glazer professional creating."We are trying to find these highly entertaining, fun, high-quality, popcorn-type suggests that potentially have a very broad appeal," Albrecht mentioned. "We will probably bring everyone else with a place where they could be thinking about regularly." Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com