Spike TV Developing 'Deep Web' Drama Series Inspired By Time Magazine Cover Story On The Notorious Silk Road Online Marketplace

Spike TV is partnering with prominent producer/director/writer Tony Krantz (Mulholland Drive, Felicity, Sports Night, 24) of Flame Ventures, and Flying Studio Pictures, the production partnership of the world renowned actor and critically-acclaimed, award winning filmmaking team Gary Oldman, and producer Douglas Urbanski, to develop an original series, Deep Web. Scott Gold (Under The Dome) will serve as Executive Producer and Writer.

This Spike original series, inspired by a recent Time Magazine cover story on the Silk Road online marketplace, is the incredible saga of an ambitious computer aficionado in Silicon Valley who, with the help of his friends, evolves into an internet underworld crime boss fueled by a web portal where one can buy anything - from a kidney to cocaine to a rocket-launcher.

Known for their motion pictures, this will mark a first time entry for Oldman/Urbanski as Executive Producers of a television series. "This is part of a long term strategy of spreading our creative wings into other platforms," said Urbanski.

"The opportunity to work on a first class project with Tony, and the dedication Spike has brought to the entire enterprise is exactly what Doug and I have been seeking, and frankly, one we could not pass up," said Oldman from London where he is currently filming.

"In this supremely competitive environment, we are thrilled to be the network to partner with Tony Krantz and filmmakers like Gary and Doug to bring this story to our ever-growing audience," said Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV. "This project speaks to the network's search for wholly distinctive and relevant ideas, ripped from today's headlines, that reflects our brand's evolvement."

Deep Web will be Executive Produced by Krantz, Oldman and Urbanski. Drew Comins, who originally sourced the TIME magazine article and EVP of Flame Ventures, will serve as Co-Executive Producer.

Deep Web is the story of a different American dream - one driven by the national economic crisis and a culture where anything goes in order to get rich and famous overnight. From the slums of Oakland to the start-up mecca of high-flying Silicon Valley, Deep Web is an entirely new crime series following an upstart tech genius who masterminds an online superhighway of illegal goods and services. As his empire grows beyond borders and government regulation, he becomes the one of the most wanted men on Earth.

Flying Studios Pictures is the production company partnership of long-term partners Gary Oldman and Douglas Urbanski. As one of the generations most acclaimed and well-known actors, the Academy Award nominated, and BAFTA winning actor has had a career in some of the most successful films of all time, playing some of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. As a force of cinema nature, his career in films is like no other, the staggering film resume includes JFK, Dracula, True Romance, Sid and Nancy, The Professional, Immortal Beloved, The Fifth Element, Air Force One, The Contender, the recent smash Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and also the record breaking Chris Nolan Batman series, one of the highest grossing franchises in cinematic history. Also as Sirius Black, in the Harry Potter films, one of the other record breaking franchises in film history. Oldman received numerous awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for his acclaimed performance as master spy George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. In addition he has been an acclaimed film maker his film Nil By Mouth won Oldman the British Academy Awards for Best Screenplay and also Best British Film, in addition to prizes at Cannes and Edinburgh.

Doug Urbanski, in addition to his many Tony Award nominated Broadway productions, is known as the nearly three decade long manager and business partner of Oldman; films he has produced include Nil By Mouth (British Academy Award Winner Best British Film), The Contender (3 Academy Award Nominations), and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (British Academy Award Winner Best British Film).

Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV, Ted Gold, Senior Vice President, Scripted Original Series, and Justin Lacob, Vice President, Original Series, will oversee the project.

Spike TV will premiere its first scripted event series in seven years, Tut, in 2015. The network recently announced script options for The Crusaders from Pierce Brosnan's Irish DreamTime, Mark Sennet Entertainment, Michael Finch and Academy Award-winning writer David Franzoni; The Chairman, based on the Stephen Frey best-seller; and War at the Shore based on Richard D. Skip Bronson's book.