Crash Becomes Miniseries

The winner of the 2005 Academy Award for Best Picture, Crash, is set to be adapted into a news series for the cable network, Starz. One of the stars of Crash, Don Cheadle will step behind the camera to work alongside Paul Haggis, the writer and director of the feature film.

The series was being developed for FX, but when they asked for a delay Starz stepped in to scoop up the series for their own network.

Variety is reporting that none of the major characters featured in the movie will be appearing in the television series, though the same style of storytelling will be employed to “get into the subjects of race and class, and the bigotry that’s simmering under the skin of a city like Los Angeles,” the president of Lionsgate (co-producer of the film and new series) said.

Another interesting comment from this story was from the Vp of programming at Starz, who said, "This deal fits well with Starz’s strategy of making TV series out of presold movie commodities."

Of, course this isn’t the first case of a network trying to cash in on the success of a film by turning it into a series. Off the top of my head I can think of The Sarah Conner Chronicles currently airing on Fox, the unsuccessful My Big Fat Greek Life, and the very successful Mash (you knew the movie came first, right?).

What do you guys think of the this news? Of this trend in general?

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