11:13 a.m. Sep 03, 1998 Eastern
NEW YORK, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Siegel, Chairman and CEO of Kaleidoscope Media Group, Inc., (Nasdaq: KMGG) (Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges: BNN) and Antonio Orozco, Executive Manager of MS International, announced today that their respective companies will be the distributors of Shaka Zulu - The Citadel, a four hour mini series starring David Hasselhoff, Henry Cele, the original Shaka, and "Miss Brazil" Linda Batista. This $20 million international production will begin principal photography in Morocco in January and will be introduced by Kaleidoscope and MS International at MIPCOM in October. The original, ten-hour Shaka Zulu, was one of the most widely seen mini series of all time.
Kaleidoscope, through a newly formed co-distribution/co-operation agreement with Global Entertainment Production B.V. and VICTORY Media Group, will handle the North American TV rights which also includes licensing/merchandising and home video. MS International retains rights for the rest of the world.
The production reunites David Hasselhoff and Henry Siegel, who worked together on the enormously successful "Baywatch," in which Hasselhoff stars and executive produces and also reunites Joshua Sinclair, who wrote the original Shaka Zulu and will both write and direct the new mini series, with Henry Cele, who will reprise the title role.
VICTORY Media of Germany and Global Entertainment Production B.V. are also the companies involved with production with Guido De Angelis as Executive Producer and Franz Landerer as Co-Producer. De Angelis, who started in TV and motion pictures as a musician, had composed with his brother Maurizio more than 400 musical scores for TV and film series and for motion pictures before moving into production.
Calling the opportunity to work with David Hasselhoff and Joshua Sinclair one of "the most exciting" of his career, De Angelis said "This script's human emotions, turmoil and heartbreak, terror and anguish make it one of the most dramatic I have ever been associated with."
Sinclair stated "In returning to Shaka I had to be absolutely sure that the story would be fresh and vibrant, more powerful than ever before. I've taken a great deal from the 'untold' stories of Shaka and have added two passionate love stories."
"The millions of viewers the world over who fondly remember Shaka Zulu as one of the great television mini series," Landerer observed, "will once again find the familiar characters of Elizabeth and Lt. Farewell embroiled with Shaka and his men in the incredible world of the Zulu warriors in Africa in the 1820's."
"The enormous appeal of the first Shaka Zulu mini series should influence the success of this new mini series in all markets including North America," stated Siegel, "and David Hasselhoff's worldwide stature should enhance this multi-national production even more."
Kaleidoscope Media Group, Inc. is a vertically integrated sports and entertainment company with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Its operating companies are SeaGull Entertainment, Hollywood Connection, LLC (direct marketing) and Kaleidoscope Entertainment (sports). Its current sports properties include golf, ice skating, boxing and fitness. Kaleidoscope produces internationally recognized television programs including "Tarzan" (series) and "Merlin: The Magic Begins."
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the Safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "will be" and "should" and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, successful integration of acquisitions, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors. The Company undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. SOURCE Kaleidoscope Media Group, Inc.
Copyright 1998, PR Newswire