Nellie Andreeva

Breakout Kings, the Cinderella story of this pilot season, officially got its happy ending today after I reported ‘Breakout Kings’ On The Verge Of A&E Deal. A&E completed a deal with 20th Century Fox’s Fox21 and Chernin Entertainment to pick up the former Fox pilot to series:

aeLogoNEW YORK, NY – June 29, 2010 – A&E Network has picked up the new original drama series, “Breakout Kings” from Fox 21 and Chernin Entertainment.  The network has ordered 13 one-hour episodes which will go into production this fall in Toronto for a 2011 premiere on A&E. From Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora, executive producers of the hit series “Prison Break,” comes “Breakout Kings,” a new action-packed ensemble drama following an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run. “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 General Manager of A&E and BIO Channel.

“’Breakout Kings’ is a labor of love for everyone at the studio, and Bob and his team immediately recognized its enormous potential,” commented Twentieth Century Fox Television Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden, who also oversee Fox 21.  Driven by the fact that there are few things more dangerous than a prisoner who has just escaped, and tired of following protocol and resorting to outdated methods of law enforcement, veteran U.S. Marshals Charlie Duchamp (Laz Alonso) and Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lombardozzi) are taking an unorthodox approach to their work: using former fugitives to catch fugitives. Charlie and Ray form a special task force composed of the three most elusive convicts Ray ever captured: a former child prodigy and behaviorist/psychiatric expert who dabbles in psychoanalysis (Jimmi Simpson); an ex-gang-banger who knows how to work the system – both in prison and on the street (Malcolm Goodwin); and a sexy expert in breaking and entering (the role, played in the pilot by Nicole Steinwadell, is being recast). Charlie and Ray also employ the services of a civilian who acts as the “funnel” for the group – all information, tips and data go through her (Brooke Nevin).  With each fugitive they apprehend, the closer they get to earning their own freedom. “Breakout Kings” is a production of Fox 21 and Chernin Entertainment. The series is created, written and executive produced by Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora. Gavin Hood, who directed the pilot and helped develop the project, also executive produces alongside Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope.

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