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"Strike Back," the British/American action series that airs in the U.S. on Cinemax, will be back for a third season. The HBO-owned network announced Wednesday that the show, which follows members of a British special ops unit and has a small but dedicated following here, will return in 2013 for a new 10-episode season that will shoot in Hungary and South Africa. Production partner Sky will broadcast the show in the UK. Executive producer Andy Harries, series producer Michael Casey and head of production Marigo Kehoe will all be returning, as will director Michael Bassett (“Silent Hill: Revelation 3D”) and writers Simon Burke (“Persuasion”), James Dormer (“Mi-5”) and Richard Zajdlic (“EastEnders”). Cast announcements are being held because they may spoil upcoming episodes of the current season, which is airing right now on Cinemax. The show will also hold onto its confidential counterterrorism...

Cinemax has just announced that Strike Back has been renewed for a third season.

The third season will have principal photography in South Africa and Hungary.

Left Bank’s Andy Harries will return as executive producer. Also returning are series producer Michael Casey and head of production Marigo Kehoe. Sky’s Huw Kennair-Jones will executive produce.

Director Michael Bassett (Silent Hill: Revelation 3D) and writers Simon Burke (Persuasion), James Dormer (Mi-5) and Richard Zajdlic (EastEnders) are also returning.

Editor’S Pick: Strike Back Season 2 Finale Lead-in & Expectations

The current season of Strike Back will conclude on Oct. 12.

Cinemax has renewed its first primetime drama series Strike Back for a third season with a 10-episode order for a 2013 premiere. The third season, which will shoot in South Africa and Hungary, will once again be produced by Cinemax/HBO, Left Bank and Sky, which will air the series in the U.K. Returning for season three will be Left Bank’s Andy Harries as executive producer, series producer Michael Casey and head of production Marigo Kehoe. Others returning for season three include director Michael Bassett and writers Simon Burke, James Dormer and Richard Zajdlic. As it did with the second-season renewal announcement, Cinemax would not confirm which cast members will continue in Season 3 “due to plot spoilers in upcoming episodes of season two.” The Strike Back renewal comes two weeks before the premiere of Cinemax’s second original primetime drama, Hunted. It will be followed by Banshee in 2013. The...

Government to allow film industry-style tax breaks for the UK's animation and video game producers

Wallace & Gromit will continue to be made in the UK, George Osborne claimed in his budget speech, as he unveiled a film industry-style tax break to encourage development in the animation and video game sectors.

The chancellor's financial incentive will also apply to high-cost dramas, such as Titanic and Downton Abbey, as revealed last week during the prime minister's trip to the Us.

Osborne told the Commons it was the policy of the government to keep Wallace & Gromit exactly where they are – a comment that prompted cheers from coalition benches as it was also a dig at Labour leader Ed Miliband, who is sometimes likened to Wallace, the cheese-loving plasticine hero.

Aardman Animations, the Bristol-based independent producer of Wallace & Gromit, has along with other animators been calling for the Treasury to give a tax relief to support UK production,...

The hit action series Strike Back will return to Cinemax in 2012 for a second season of ten new episodes, which will begin shooting in South Africa in early 2012 and air later in the year. Cinemax/HBO will again produce the series with partners Left Bank and Sky, who will air the series in the U.K. The series marks the first time the two broadcasters have co-produced an original series together.

Left Bank's Andy Harries will return as executive producer, and series producer Michael Casey and head of production Marigo Kehoe will also return. Sky's Huw Kennair-Jones will executive produce. Also returning are Bill Eagles (Beautiful Creatures; director of episodes 3 and 4), who will direct four new episodes, Paul Wilmshurst (director of episodes 7 and 8), who will direct two episodes, and Tony Saint (writer of episodes 9 and 10), who will write a number of episodes and co-executive produce.

Currently debuting new episodes Fridays at 10:00 p.

Strike Back Season 2 is on the way! Today, Cinemax and HBO announced that Strike Back will be coming back in late 2012 for its second season. The series is co-produced with Left Bank and Sky, who will air the series in the U.K. The series, starring Sullivan Stapleton (Animal Kingdom, upcoming Gangster Squad) as Sgt. Damien Scott and Philip Winchester (Crusoe, Camelot) as Sgt. Michael Stonebridge, made its explosive debut this August. Season 2 is confirmed for 10 episodes that will begin shooting in early 2012 with principal shooting in South Africa. Left Bank’s Andy Harries will return as executive producer, and series producer Michael Casey and head of production Marigo Kehoe will also return. Sky’s Huw Kennair-Jones will executive produce. Also returning are Bill Eagles (“Beautiful Creatures”; director of episodes 3 and 4), who will direct four new episodes, Paul Wilmshurst (“Hiroshima”; director of episodes 7 and 8), who will direct two episodes, and Tony Saint (“Margaret.

Cinemax’s first primetime drama series Strike Back is a keeper. HBO’s sibling cable network has picked up a 10-episode second season of the action series to air next year. Filming will begin in South Africa in early 2012. Returning as producing partners to Cinemax/HBO are Left Bank and Sky, which will air the series in the U.K. Also coming back are Left Bank’s Andy Harries and Sky’s Huw Kennair-Jones as executive producers, series producer Michael Casey, head of production Marigo Kehoe, series directors Bill Eagles, who will direct four new episodes, Paul Wilmshurst, who will direct two episodes, and writer Tony Saint, who will write a number of episodes and co-executive produce. There must be major deaths coming in the final episodes of Season 1 of Strike Back, which ends Oct. 21, as Cinemax declined to announce the cast for Season 2 “due to plot spoilers in upcoming...

HBO's sibling pay-cable channel Cinemax is venturing into original programming with its first scripted primetime drama, Strike Back, a 10-hour action series it will co-produce with British satcaster Sky and U.K.-based Left Bank Pictures (The Special Relationship). The project, written by The X-Files alum Frank Spotnitz and British TV writer Richard Zadjlic (EastEnders), is inspired by the Sky series Strike Back, which in turn was based on Chris Ryan's book of the same name. That series, produced by Left Bank Pictures, premiered last summer and starred Richard Armitage as John Porter, former British Special Forces soldier drafted back into service by MI6. The Cinemax/Sky version will have new settings/storylines and will introduce new characters, led by Damien Scott (Animal Kingdom's Sullivan Stapleton), a charismatic former U.S. Special Forces operative who teams up with a British military unit led by Section 20 officer Michael Stone...

Cinemax is getting deeper into the drama game with a new action series reminiscent of Fox’s 24 along with a dash of Call of Duty.

The network has ordered Strike Back, following a charismatic former U.S. Special Forces operative who teams up with a British military unit to stop an international terrorist group. The show is inspired by an acclaimed UK series and a book by author and former special forces officer Chris Ryan. Philip Winchester (Fringe) and Sullivan Stapleton (Animal Kingdom) will star (the UK original co-starred Walking Dead lead Andrew Lincoln — trailer below).

The programming model is...

DVD Playhouse: March 2010

By

Allen Gardner

Precious: Based On The Novel “Push” By Sapphire (Lionsgate) In-your-face, but undeniably powerful film that follows the plight of an overweight inner-city teen (Gabourey Sidbe, a real find) who must deal with an abusive mother (Mo’Nique, in a career-making turn for which she won a most-deserved Best Supporting Actress Oscar), a baby born of her abusive, and absent, father, and trying to survive day-to-day with few people to offer her help, save for a sympathetic teacher (Paula Patton) in a special ed program. Director/producer Lee Daniels, a former personal manager/producer-turned-filmmaker, brings a kitchen sink authenticity to the proceedings, along with a cast of famous powerhouse performers, who manage to disappear into their roles. Tough stuff, but not to be missed. Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay (Geoffrey Fletcher). Bonuses: Commentary by Daniels; Featurettes; Interviews with Sapphire and Daniels; Deleted scene. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.