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A&E has nabbed drama series “Breakout Kings” from Fox 21 and Chernin Entertainment. The cabler has ordered 13 one-hour episodes that will enter production this fall in Toronto for a 2011 premiere.
From Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora, co-creators of Fox’s “Prison Break,” “Breakout” follows an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run. The project was originally produced in the spring as a pilot at Fox, where it generated buzz before the network ultimately passed.
“As soon as we screened the ‘Breakout Kings’ pilot, it struck us as the perfect fit for A&E as the network of ‘Real Life. Drama,'” said Bob DeBitetto, president and GM of A&E and the Bio Channel.
Added Fox Television chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden, who also oversee Fox 21: “We’ve been in business with Matt and Nick since their incredible work on ‘Prison Break,’ and we are certain this show will thrive on A&E.”
In the series, Laz Alonso (“Avatar,” “The Fast and the Furious”) and Domenick Lombardozzi (“The Wire,” “Entourage”) play veteran marshals who use former fugitives to catch fugitives.
“Breakout” was created, written and exec produced by Olmstead and Santora. Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope and Gavin Hood also exec produce. Hood (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) directed the pilot as well.
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