Fox Television Studios has made an overall deal with Academy Award-winning director and producer Robert Zemeckis and producing partner Jack Rapke to develop and produce original TV shows for cable.
Zemeckis — director of “Forrest Gump,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” and the “Back to the Future” trilogy — formed ImageMovers with Rapke and partner Steve Starkey in 1998. Their first feature was the critically acclaimed “Cast Away,” directed by Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks. Their other hits include “What Lies Beneath” starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer, and Ridley Scott's “Matchstick Men,” starring Nicolas Cage.
The partners also executive produce the Showtime series “The Borgias,” starring Jeremy Irons, which is in production on its third season. Their most recent film “Flight,” directed by Zemeckis, starring Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle and John Goodman, is due in theaters Nov. 2.
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“Bob and Jack are a rare breed, as gifted and accomplished creatively as they are in production; we are excited and determined to make them as much of a dynamic brand in television as they are in film," said Fox Television Studios President David Madden. "I take particular personal pleasure in forming this new relationship with Bob, whom I worked with as an executive on his ‘Romancing The Stone,’ and with Jack, whom I made so many deals with during his years as a superstar directors' agent at CAA. So we’re looking optimistically back to the future.”
Fox Television Studios currently produces the hit series “Burn Notice,” now in its sixth season, and “White Collar,” now in its fourth season, both for USA. It recently wrapped season three production on A&E’s hit series “The Glades,” as well as the FX pilot “The Americans.” Its unscripted programming includes the competition series “The Great Escape” for TNT.