NBC has announced the directors, writers and stars of its upcoming new suspense and horror anthology series "Fear Itself" from Lionsgate and Industry Entertainment:

A host of provocative directors, actors and writers - including award-winning directors John Landis ("An American Werewolf in London"), Darren Bousman ("Saw II, III and IV"), Ronny Yu ("Freddy vs. Jason," "Bride of Chucky"), Brad Anderson ("The Machinist"), Breck Eisner (upcoming Universal Pictures film "Creature from the Black Lagoon"), Mary Harron ("American Psycho"), Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator") and Ernest Dickerson (NBC's "Heroes") - have been signed for NBC's "Fear Itself," a new 13-episode suspense and horror anthology series from Lionsgate in association with Industry Entertainment.

Brandon Routh ("Superman Returns"), Shiri Appleby ("Charlie Wilson's War"), Elisabeth Moss ("Mad Men"), Cynthia Watros ("Lost"), Eric Roberts (NBC's "Heroes"), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise"), Russell Hornsby ("Lincoln Heights"), Pablo Schreiber ("The Wire"), Stephen Lee ("Boston Legal"), Stephen R. Hart ("Shoot 'Em Up"), Jack Noseworthy ("Judging Amy") and Larry Gilliard Jr. ("The Wire") are among the sought-after actors who will be portraying various characters in three episodes of the series.

Among the writers set are Joe Gangemi ("Wind Chill," the novel "Inamorata"), Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night"), Dan Knauf ("Carnivale," "Supernatural"), Lem Dobbs ("The Score"), Matt Venne ("White Noise 2: The Light"), Richard Chizmar & Johnathan Schaech ("Masters of Horror," "From a Buick 8"), Victor Salva ("Jeepers Creepers"), Mick Garris ("Riding the Bullet," "Amazing Stories"), Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan ("Masters of Horror"), Kelly Kennemer ("The Music Within") and Max Landis ("Masters of Horror").

The announcement was made today by Teri Weinberg, Executive Vice President, NBC Entertainment. "We've teamed up with some of the most illustrious writers, actors and directors to create a distinctive, scare-filled series that will push the boundaries of this classic genre," said Weinberg. "'Fear Itself' will deliver memorable and horrifying moments that will keep fans on the edge of their seats, begging for more on this fun-filled ride of terror."

"We and our partners at Industry Entertainment couldn't be happier about NBC's enthusiastic support of 'Fear Itself' and the caliber of artists who have been drawn to the project," said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate's President of Television Programming and Production. "Our goal is to offer audiences a fantastic thrill every week and we've certainly got the all-star team to do it."


"Community" is directed by Mary Harron ("American Psycho," "The Notorious Betty Page," "Big Love") and written by Kelly Kennemer ("The Music Within"). When a young married couple, played by Routh and Appleby, find the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, their lives seem...well...perfect. But as the dark underbelly of their neighborhood creeps to the surface, they soon realize that their neighbors will go to any extreme -- even murder -- to make sure that they comply with their twisted sense of conformity. John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise") also stars.

"Eater," is directed by Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator," "Masters of Horror") and written by Cemetery Dance Magazine publisher and editor Richard Chizmar ("From a Buick 8") & actor Johnathon Schaech ("Masters of Horror," "That Thing You Do!"). A rookie cop (Moss) must spend her first night in the precinct watching over a serial killer, coined "The Eater" (Stephen R. Hart, "Shoot 'Em Up"). When her fellow cops start acting bizarre, she quickly learns that no one is who they seem. Russell Hornsby ("Lincoln Heights"), Pablo Schreiber ("The Wire") and Stephen Lee ("Boston Legal") also star.

"Spooked," is directed by Brad Anderson ("The Machinist") and written by Matt Venne ("White Noise 2: The Light"). While on a stake out in a haunted house, a private eye (Roberts) is made to confront the demons of his past. Jack Noseworthy ("Judging Amy"), Cynthia Watros ("Lost") and Larry Gilliard Jr. ("The Wire") also star.


"Red Snow" has a screenplay written by Mick Garris ("Riding the Bullet," "Amazing Stories"), from a story by Del Howison ("Dark Delicacies"). Breck Eisner ("Creature from the Black Lagoon") will direct. When four criminals find themselves stranded in an old, snow-covered fort, they slowly discover both the fort and the seductive trio of sirens who reside there are filled with deadly secrets.

"Chance" is written by Lem Dobbs ("The Score"), with a director to be announced later. In the vein of such classic doppelganger stories as "Jekyll & Hyde" and Poe's "William Wilson," the episode explores a dreadful, classic battle that ensues when a man is confronted by his evil self.

"New Year's Day" will be directed by Darren Bousman ("Saw II, III and IV"), and is written by Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night") from a story by Paul Kane. A young woman wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by horrifying zombies.

"Family Man" will be directed by Ronny Yu ("Freddy vs. Jason," "Bride of Chucky") and is written by Dan Knauf ("Carnivale," "Supernatural"). This action-charged, psychological thriller focuses on a likeable family man who switches bodies with a serial killer after a near-death experience. Now, he must fight from behind bars to keep the murderer from adding his family to the long list of victims.

"Skin & Bones" is written by Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan ("Masters of Horror") with a director to be announced later. When a cattle herder returns home to his family after being lost in the woods for days, he just doesn't seem the same. Soon, a terrible mortal struggle ensues against the terrifying monster possessing him.

"Something With Bite" is a reinvention of the classic werewolf story from writer Max Landis ("Masters of Horror"), the son of John Landis. Ernest Dickerson (NBC's "Heroes") will direct.

In "Nightmare in Lace," John Landis ("An American Werewolf in London") will direct an episode written by Victor Salva ("Jeepers Creepers"). On her wedding day, a beautiful bride receives a mysterious note that reads: "The person you are marrying is a serial killer."

The series is produced by Lionsgate in association with IE Indy TV, Industry Entertainment's newly formed independent television label, and was created by Mick Garris. The Emmy-winning team of Keith Addis and Andrew Deane ("Masters of Horror") are the executive producers. Peter Block is co-executive producer; Grant Rosenberg is supervising producer; and Adam Goldworm, Ben Browning and Jonathan Hackett are producers.

Every other season they seem to put on one of these anthology series. I think the last one I saw was hosted by Forest Whitaker, can't rember the name. Anyhow they usually turn out very uneven and have been short lived.

Those story lines mentioned sound awfully familar and Community is a direct ripoff of an X-File episode. Now that's one they should bring back, even with a new cast, although David and Gillian aren't exactly red hot movie stars.

I like anthology series, though they actually do tend to be pretty average.
I expect pretty much that same as we have had with Masters of Horror and Nightmares & Dreamscapes, and with Mick Garris' participation it will certainly guarantee a mediocre series.

I think that the Forest Whitaker series was the third and most abysmal version of The Twilight Zone.

The more horror we get the less time I have less.

Fear Itself had the first show tonight and it wasn't scary, just plain dumb.

Looks to be a short lived series if this is any judge.

i agree, very predictable

I didn't catch the 1st Episode. Which one was it?
I did see the 2nd (with Eirc Roberts) and the 3rd one and I thought they were pretty good, espcially episode 3 which was "Family Man", scripted by the writer of HBO's "Carnivale" which I really liked.

"Family Man" had some pretty gruesome images and disturbing subject matter, especially for network TV. I think the story is actually strong enough to be easily expanded into a feature.

Even so, I am a bit spoiled by the previous "Master of Horror" incarnation of this series (from Showtime) which went out of its way to push the envelope.

Anyway, a nice alternative to the "Sumer Reality" glut in any event, so I hope it does well enough for more episodes than those announced above. Give it a chance, horror fans!