More News On The Cast And Crew
According to Daily Variety, ABC Family has greenlit its second scripted drama, WILDFIRE, produced by former STAR TREK producer Michael Piller and partner Lloyd Segan (THE DEAD ZONE). Michael and Shawn Piller wrote the pilot script, which was directed by Steve Miner. ABC Family ordered 11 episodes of the series.
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE actress Nana Visitor ('Kira Nerys') stars as 'Jean Ritter'. The new series revolves around 18-year-old 'Kris' (Genevieve Cortese), a troubled teen who attempts to set her life straight when she finds work on the ranch of her foster family.
"We're delighted to be moving forward with ABC Family on this series," said Kevin Beggs, president, programming and production, Lions Gate Television. "We couldn't have better creative partners in this venture than Michael Piller, Shawn Piller and Lloyd Segan, and we believe the show will strongly appeal to ABC Family's audience."
WILDFIRE is produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Piller2, and The Segan Company.
Taken from Trek Web
James Read Joins The Cast!
James Read of Remington Steel has been added to the cast.
Thanks to TOC for the news and sorry for the delay in posting it!
Offical Cast Photo!
Pictured Left to Right; Back Row (standing): Shawn Piller (producer), Shannon Robinson (New Mexico State Senator), “Wildfire” (the horse), Greg Serano (plays Pablo Betart), Genevieve Cortese (plays Kris Furillo), Nana Visitor (plays Jean Ritter), Andrew Hoeft (plays Todd Ritter), Micah Alberti (plays Matt Ritter), Dennis Weaver (plays Hentry Ritter), Nicole Tubiola (plays Dani Davis), Ryan Sypek (plays Junior Davis), Shanna Collins (plays Amber), and James Read (plays Ken Davis). Front Row (sitting): Lloyd Segan and Michael Piller (executive producers).
Thanks to Carol Reeg, Editor of the Nana Visitor's fan club newsletter for sending me the photo and cast names! Hope you'll be able to help out with the site!
More Episode News!
From "Variety":
Posted: Sun., Mar. 27, 2005, 10:00pm PT
ABC Family sparks to 'Wildfire' drama
Cabler orders up 11 eps
By DENISE MARTIN
ABC Family has greenlit its second scripted drama, "Wildfire." Cabler ordered production on 11 one-hour episodes in addition to the two-hour pilot, which will serve as the premiere, from Lions Gate TV.
"Wildfire" revolves around 18-year-old Kris (Genevieve Cortese), a troubled teen who attempts to set her life straight when she finds work on the ranch of her foster family.
Project had previously been developed at the WB as a potential series but was reworked into a two-hour movie after moving to ABC Family (Daily Variety, Oct. 13). Execs changed their minds after screening the finished product.
Weekly series will bow with the two-hour telepic June 20.
Lions Gate TV will produce the show, with Michael Piller and Lloyd Segan ("The Dead Zone") exec producing. Michael and Shawn Piller wrote the pilot script directed by Steve Miner.
Since his arrival last April, ABC Family topper Paul Lee has been making a big push into the scripted arena, focusing on shows that embrace the diversity and dysfunction of modern families. Last month (Daily Variety, Feb. 8), he commissioned the cabler's first original drama, "Beautiful People," from Michael Rauch (CBS' "Love Monkey") and Paul Stupin ("Dawson's Creek").
Execs hope "Wildfire" and "Beautiful People" capitalize on the loyal following of off-net hours "Gilmore Girls" and "Smallville." "Gilmore" averages 1.3 million viewers in its weekday airings and has scored some of ABC Family's best 18-49 numbers.
Thanks to TOC for posting this at the site!
Offical PR!
ABC FAMILY PICKS UP ITS SECOND ORIGINAL SCRIPTED SERIES
13 Hours Are Ordered of "Wildfire" (Working Title)
Production from Lions Gate Television Introduces Genevieve Cortese
in an Ensemble Cast Featuring Dennis Weaver
Burbank, CA (March 28, 2005) – ABC Family has picked up its second scripted series, ordering 11 one-hour episodes (plus the two-hour movie premiere) of WILDFIRE (working title), it was announced today by Paul Lee, president, ABC Family. Starring an ensemble cast featuring gifted newcomer Genevieve Cortese, the series will air this summer following the two-hour premiere. The drama, produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Piller² and The Segan Company, centers on the struggles of a teenage girl (Cortese) to turn her life around. The film also stars veteran actor Dennis Weaver ("McCloud"), Greg Serano (“Kingpinâ€), Nana Visitor (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nineâ€) and Micah Alberti ("All My Children").
"'Wildfire' was slated for us as an original movie," said Lee. "After seeing the first cut, there was no doubt that it would make a great series for us."
“We’re delighted to be moving forward with ABC Family on this series,†said Kevin Beggs, president, programming & production, Lions Gate Television. “We couldn’t have better creative partners in this venture than Michael Piller, Shawn Piller and Lloyd Segan, and we believe the show will strongly appeal to ABC Family’s audience.â€
WILDFIRE follows eighteen-year-old Kris Furillo (Cortese) who, after serving time at a teen detention center, is given the opportunity to start a new life. Her talent with horses is recognized by a volunteer and local trainer (Serano), who arranges a job for her at the Ritter's family run ranch. Thrown into a completely new environment, Kris must learn to deal with the challenges of fitting in, while trying not to disappoint the one family willing to give her a chance. The Ritters are facing challenges of their own even as they reach out to help Kris. Patriarch Henry Ritter (Weaver) and his daughter Jean (Visitor) are in a critical stage of their battle to save the ranch from financial ruin.
WILDFIRE is produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Piller² and The Segan Company. Michael Piller (“The Dead Zone,†"Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Star Trek: Voyager") and Lloyd Segan (“The Dead Zone,†"The Bachelor," "Boondock Saints," "Bones") are executive producers. The two-hour pilot, which will kick off the series, was produced by Preston Fischer ("Las Vegas," "Living With The Dead") and directed by Steve Miner ("North Shore," "Smallville") from a teleplay by Michael Piller and Shawn Piller (“The Dead Zone,†"Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Voyager") and story by Michael Piller and Christopher Teague. Rounding out the ensemble cast are Andrew Hoeft, James Read, Ryan Sypek and Nicole Tubiola.
Lions Gate Television is the television production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF; TSX). With a total of five series on the air or scheduled to air shortly, the company is continuing its strategy of being an important supplier of content to cable and broadcast networks. Lions Gate Entertainment is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of approximately 8000 titles is one of the largest in the entertainment industry. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.
Distributed in over 88 million homes, ABC Family features original movies, series and specials. Programming that is reflective of today's families – with all of their diversity, dysfunction, humor and passion. Real stories. Real families. Real heart.
Thanks so much to ESTILLWELL for the news!
