GroupM Entertainment announced today a new partnership with digital media startup, Graphic India and the acclaimed Smallville producer, James Marshall, for a new live-action television series called The Adventurers Club.
Under the terms of the deal, GroupM Entertainment will share executive producer credit and ownership of the series, including syndication rights. In addition to financing, GME will lend creative and strategic support to the show’s creators with the goal of seeing the property entertain audiences worldwide.
“This is an exciting new project for us and we’re very anxious to take it to market and find a distributor,” said GME Global CEO Peter Tortorici. “All of us at GroupM are particularly excited about working with James Marshall, whose background and experience will take this show to a new level.”
Marshall and Graphic India Co-Founders, Sharad Devarajan and Gotham Chopra created the series and will serve as executive producers. Emmy-nominated television writer Sam Egan will write the pilot and is also a producer.
“The Adventurers Club unlocks a global mystery revealing secrets and clues embedded in mankind’s history, mythology, legends and lore since the dawn of recorded time, and asks the question, how far would you go to save the ones you love?”said Devarajan, CEO of Graphic India. “GroupM Entertainment is the perfect partner to collaborate on a global, transmedia story such as this, given their strong relationships with broadcasters, digital platforms and brands around the world.”
The Adventurers Club tells the story of Edward Hughes, a man driven by a personal quest for redemption to save his wife and missing son. His journey takes the viewer through secret societies, forbidden cults, lost cultures and supernatural events, unlocking secrets that have devastating consequences. The secret destiny of the human race will finally be revealed – saving us or damning us forever.
“The Adventurers Club is a project that I am very passionate about,” added James Marshall. “The story world is vast and compelling and the subject matter is incredibly thought provoking. It’s something you could explore forever and never get bored.”
Marshall is an award-winning producer and television director. He has produced or directed more than 160 episodes of television including Smallville, Falling Skies, Charlie’s Angels, The O.C., Tarzan, Birds of Prey, Charmed and Dead Like Me.
In addition to The Adventurers Club, series creators Devarajan and Chopra are screenwriters and producers on the feature film “The Sadhu,” in development with producer, Mark Canton’s, Atmosphere Entertainment (‘300, The Immortals’). Graphic India was formed by Liquid Comics and CA Media, the Asian investment arm of The Chernin Group.
The Adventurers Club will also be launched later this year as a new interactive mobile comic app from Graphic India.
