Production Begins with Broadway Star Angela Bettis in Title Role Backed by Cast Including Patricia Clarkson, David Keith, Jasmine Guy and Emilie de Ravin

BURBANK, Calif. -- June 28, 2002 -- Production has begun on NBC’s new, three-hour version of “Carrie,” based on Stephen King’s horror classic, starring Angela Bettis (“The Crucible,” “Girl Interrupted”) in the title role, it was announced today by Jeff Gaspin, Executive Vice President, Alternative Series, Specials, Longform and Program Strategy.

The movie event will be distributed by MGM Television Entertainment for a projected Fall 2002 broadcast. Filming began earlier this month in Vancouver, British Columbia.

This gritty re-make of the 1976 MGM feature (starring Sissy Spacek) includes scenes from the novel that didn’t appear in the original film, making it a more faithful adaptation of King’s eerie tale of a teenaged girl, shunned by her peers, who discovers she has inexplicable telekinetic powers. Bryan Fuller’s powerful three-hour screenplay and state-of-the-art digital effects take the thriller to a whole new level as Carrie’s fellow high school students torment and mock her - unaware of the frightening forces of revenge boiling within her -- waiting to explode.

Bettis garnered critical praise for her role as Abigail, the troublemaking teen, in the Broadway production of “The Crucible.” Her feature credits also include “Girl, Interrupted” and “Bless the Child.” Veteran film and television star Patricia Clarkson (“Six Feet Under,” “The Green Mile”) stars as Margaret White, Carrie’s mother, whose religious fanaticism has made an outcast of her daughter. Also starring are David Keith (“U-571,” “An Officer and a Gentleman”), Jasmine Guy (“Feast of All Saints,” “A Different World”) and Emilie de Ravin (“Roswell”).

David Carson (“Star Trek: Generations,” “From the Earth to the Moon,” “In His Life: The John Lennon Story”) directs from a script by Bryan Fuller (“Star Trek: Voyager”). Fuller executive produces along with Mark Stern, Pen Densham & John Watson, partners in Trilogy Entertainment Group whose credits include “The Outer Limits,” “The Twilight Zone,” “The Magnificent Seven” and “Breaking News.” David Livingston is the producer.

Digital effects will be provided by Stargate Digital USA whose credits include “CSI,” “Crossing Jordan,” “ER” and “Dead Zone.”
# # #