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Mel Brooks and BFC Berliner Film to Animate Spaceballs Series

BFC Berliner Film Companie has partnered with Brooksfilms and MGM Domestic Television Distribution, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. to create an hour-long pilot and 13x30 animated television series based on the classic Mel Brooks 1987 feature, SPACEBALLS.

Brooks and Thomas Meehan, authors of the original screenplay, will write the pilot and supervise writing on the rest of the series. Brooks will provide the voice of two main characters, President Scroob and Yogurt.

We are thrilled to be working with a comic genius like Mel Brooks on what were sure will be the highly successful translation of his classic film comedy to the medium of animation for TV, said Rainer Soehnlein, ceo of BFC Berliner Film Companie Group. We look forward to our collaboration with him and with MGM, and to bringing SPACEBALLS to a new audience.

BFC and MGM will produce the pilot and 13 half-hour episodes. Additionally, MGM will distribute the program in the U.S., Canada and internationally, with the exception of Germany. Brooks and Soehnlein will serve as exec producers.

Primetime animation has become a powerful staple and with the unmatched comedic talents of Mel Brooks and BFCs expertise, youve got quite a winning combination, said Jim Packer, MGMs evp of television distribution, North America. To this day, SPACEBALLS is incredibly successful on television and in video, and with the abundance of sci-fi films that have come out in the past decade, theres no shortage of material for Mel.

The theatrical SPACEBALLS release focused on Planet Spaceball's President Scroob, who sends Lord Dark Helmet to steal Planet Druidia's abundant supply of air to replenish that of his own planet. Only the hero, Lone Star, can stop the evil plan.

In the past two years, BFC already has more than 144 half-hours of kids' programming in its portfolio, including two other new series, SHERM! and MP4ORCE (working title). BFC has successfully distributed four series to international broadcasters, including ADVENTURERS, SHADOW OF THE ELVES, ALTAIR IN STARLAND and MISSION ODYSSEY. BFCs first U.S. network deal, the hip hop, sci-fi animated series, DA BOOM CREW, premiered in September in the Saturday morning lineup on Kids WB!

MGM (www.mgm.com), through its MGM Studios Inc. subsidiary, produces and distributes motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise on a worldwide basis. The company owns the worlds largest library of modern films, comprising about 4,000 titles. Operating units include MGM Pictures, United Artists, MGM Television Entertainment, MGM Networks, MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution, MGM Domestic Television Distribution, MGM Home Entertainment, MGM On Stage, MGM Consumer Products, MGM Music, MGM Interactive and MGM Direct. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 120 countries.

MGM Domestic Television Distribution handles distribution of film and television product as well as co-productions for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and United Artists. Through the division, more than 4,000 feature films and 10,100 television episodes are available to pay-, basic-cable and free-television clients in the U.S. and Canada.

BFC Berliner Film Companie GmbH was formed in 2002 to develop and produce television and feature-film animation. Working with America's top creators, producers and directors, BFC has established a unique American-style production company in Berlin, along with an office in Los Angeles to maintain a constant presence in the center of the U.S. entertainment industry. BFC is affiliated with Dresdner Allianz Group, one of the worlds leading financial powerhouses.

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