Empire to Premiere on ABC June 28
Source: ABC
April 27, 2005
Empire, an epic six-hour summer drama series from the executive producers of the Academy Award-winning Chicago, will have a special two-hour premiere, Tuesday, June 28 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. The sweeping limited drama series, filmed entirely in Rome and South Central Italy, focuses on Julius Caesar's nephew, Octavius, who is forced into exile after Caesar's murder, and a fictional disgraced gladiator, Tyrannus, who has sworn to protect him.
The other four one-hour episodes are slated to air on successive Tuesday nights, all from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET.
Empire features a stellar international cast led by Jonathan Cake and Santiago Cabrera, with guest and recurring stars including Dennis Haysbert and Trudie Styler. It is one of the most lavish and technically complex series ever to air on ABC in primetime. Empire is being executive-produced by award-winning producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, multiple award-winner Tony Jonas, Chip Johannessen and Thomas Wheeler, who is also the series creator.
The time is 44 B.C. and the Conqueror Julius Caesar (Colm Feore) returns from triumphs in Spain to a neglected Republic and a corrupt Senate drunk with power. Though he's hailed as a hero by the masses, the Senate is wary of Caesar's plans that might place him in a position of ultimate power. Brutus (James Frain) and Cassius (Michael Maloney) try to enlist the help of Marc Antony (Vincent Regan) in overthrowing Caesar, but Antony is loyal to Caesar and refuses. A terrible conflict looms and the fate of an empire will fall to one man - a gladiator named Tyrannus.
Tyrannus (Jonathan Cake), Rome's finest warrior, is undefeated in the arena and considered a champion among men. A slave since he was a young man, Tyrannus impresses Caesar with his fighting prowess and his popularity, and with his dedication to Rome. Caesar offers him freedom in return for his service and friendship. However the Senate puts up a vicious fight for power and manages to separate Caesar from Tyrannus' protective grasp by sending the gladiator to one last match to the death. Cassius and Brutus have Tyrannus' son, Piso, kidnapped. Tyrannus rushes to his son's rescue and kills the kidnappers, only to realize that the abduction is a diversion. He hurries to Caesar's side, but it is too late. His absence results in Brutus successfully leading a group of conspirators in assassinating the great conqueror. As he is drawing his last breath, Caesar swears Tyrannus to an oath to protect his successor, Octavius (Santiago Cabrera), his 18-year-old nephew.
Tyrannus and Octavius are forced into exile to protect the young man from those who want to sever Caesar's bloodline once and for all. They are joined by Agrippa (Chris Egan), a young soldier, and by Camane (Emily Blunt), a Vestal Virgin from the powerful religious Order whose members are being hunted down for trying to save Octavius. Together they will help Octavius fulfill his destiny. He leaves Rome an impetuous boy, but will Octavius return as Emperor?
Production scoured south-central Italy for locations to represent Caesar's Roman Republic, including the ancient roads of the Apian Way, Aqua Appia, the 2,000-year-old aqueduct responsible for the first running water, Romulus' Fourth Century tomb, the pine trees and marketplaces of Ostia Antica and the beachside caves of Anzio, a famous disembarkation point during World War II. The production recreated a piazza/arena for the gladiator fights, the Forum, including the Senate, piazza and various roads, and the interior of Marc Antony's villa, which boasts 72,000 fake Roman bricks, 11,000 roofing tiles and 16,000 square feet of mosaic floor covering - all on the 270-acre back lot at Cinecitta Studios, formerly Roma Studios and, prior to that, the once famous Dino DeLaurentis Studios.
Over 6,000 yards of fabric were gathered from India, Germany and Italy and painstakingly colored with 320 pounds of dye from fresh herb extracts, replicating the process from ancient Roman times. The small army of wardrobe and props personnel also provided 150 sets of handmade women's jewelry, 700 pair of boots and sandals from Pompeii and Tunisia and breast plates originally used in the productions of Cleopatra and Ben Hur.
Additionally, award-winning sword masters, husband-and-wife team Dan Speaker and Jan Bryant (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) took on the challenge of duplicating the brutish style of the Roman gladiators of over 2,000 years ago, working one-on-one with the stars of Empire, especially Jonathan Cake, who portrays Tyrannus.
Empire is being directed by John Gray, Kim Manners and Greg Yaitanes. Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Tony Jonas, Chip Johannessen and series creator Tom Wheeler are the executive producers. The series is produced by Taranus LTD., in association with Storyline Entertainment, and is distributed by Touchstone Television.
Source: ABC
April 27, 2005
Empire, an epic six-hour summer drama series from the executive producers of the Academy Award-winning Chicago, will have a special two-hour premiere, Tuesday, June 28 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. The sweeping limited drama series, filmed entirely in Rome and South Central Italy, focuses on Julius Caesar's nephew, Octavius, who is forced into exile after Caesar's murder, and a fictional disgraced gladiator, Tyrannus, who has sworn to protect him.
The other four one-hour episodes are slated to air on successive Tuesday nights, all from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET.
Empire features a stellar international cast led by Jonathan Cake and Santiago Cabrera, with guest and recurring stars including Dennis Haysbert and Trudie Styler. It is one of the most lavish and technically complex series ever to air on ABC in primetime. Empire is being executive-produced by award-winning producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, multiple award-winner Tony Jonas, Chip Johannessen and Thomas Wheeler, who is also the series creator.
The time is 44 B.C. and the Conqueror Julius Caesar (Colm Feore) returns from triumphs in Spain to a neglected Republic and a corrupt Senate drunk with power. Though he's hailed as a hero by the masses, the Senate is wary of Caesar's plans that might place him in a position of ultimate power. Brutus (James Frain) and Cassius (Michael Maloney) try to enlist the help of Marc Antony (Vincent Regan) in overthrowing Caesar, but Antony is loyal to Caesar and refuses. A terrible conflict looms and the fate of an empire will fall to one man - a gladiator named Tyrannus.
Tyrannus (Jonathan Cake), Rome's finest warrior, is undefeated in the arena and considered a champion among men. A slave since he was a young man, Tyrannus impresses Caesar with his fighting prowess and his popularity, and with his dedication to Rome. Caesar offers him freedom in return for his service and friendship. However the Senate puts up a vicious fight for power and manages to separate Caesar from Tyrannus' protective grasp by sending the gladiator to one last match to the death. Cassius and Brutus have Tyrannus' son, Piso, kidnapped. Tyrannus rushes to his son's rescue and kills the kidnappers, only to realize that the abduction is a diversion. He hurries to Caesar's side, but it is too late. His absence results in Brutus successfully leading a group of conspirators in assassinating the great conqueror. As he is drawing his last breath, Caesar swears Tyrannus to an oath to protect his successor, Octavius (Santiago Cabrera), his 18-year-old nephew.
Tyrannus and Octavius are forced into exile to protect the young man from those who want to sever Caesar's bloodline once and for all. They are joined by Agrippa (Chris Egan), a young soldier, and by Camane (Emily Blunt), a Vestal Virgin from the powerful religious Order whose members are being hunted down for trying to save Octavius. Together they will help Octavius fulfill his destiny. He leaves Rome an impetuous boy, but will Octavius return as Emperor?
Production scoured south-central Italy for locations to represent Caesar's Roman Republic, including the ancient roads of the Apian Way, Aqua Appia, the 2,000-year-old aqueduct responsible for the first running water, Romulus' Fourth Century tomb, the pine trees and marketplaces of Ostia Antica and the beachside caves of Anzio, a famous disembarkation point during World War II. The production recreated a piazza/arena for the gladiator fights, the Forum, including the Senate, piazza and various roads, and the interior of Marc Antony's villa, which boasts 72,000 fake Roman bricks, 11,000 roofing tiles and 16,000 square feet of mosaic floor covering - all on the 270-acre back lot at Cinecitta Studios, formerly Roma Studios and, prior to that, the once famous Dino DeLaurentis Studios.
Over 6,000 yards of fabric were gathered from India, Germany and Italy and painstakingly colored with 320 pounds of dye from fresh herb extracts, replicating the process from ancient Roman times. The small army of wardrobe and props personnel also provided 150 sets of handmade women's jewelry, 700 pair of boots and sandals from Pompeii and Tunisia and breast plates originally used in the productions of Cleopatra and Ben Hur.
Additionally, award-winning sword masters, husband-and-wife team Dan Speaker and Jan Bryant (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) took on the challenge of duplicating the brutish style of the Roman gladiators of over 2,000 years ago, working one-on-one with the stars of Empire, especially Jonathan Cake, who portrays Tyrannus.
Empire is being directed by John Gray, Kim Manners and Greg Yaitanes. Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Tony Jonas, Chip Johannessen and series creator Tom Wheeler are the executive producers. The series is produced by Taranus LTD., in association with Storyline Entertainment, and is distributed by Touchstone Television.
