Nickelodeon Greenlights Varsity Pictures' Action Comedy Supah Ninjas for 26 Episodes to Join Powerhouse Live-Action Slate in 2011

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon has picked up new comedy series Supah Ninjas to join its hit live-action programming line up, it was announced today by Marjorie Cohn, President, Original Programming and Development, Nickelodeon.  Comic book in tone and cinematic in style, Supah Ninjas follows three unsuspecting kids who are drafted into the secret world of ninjas.  Created by Eric Garcia and Leo Chu (Afro Samurai) the series will be helmed by executive producers Garcia, Chu and Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett (Fred: The Movie) under the Varsity Pictures production banner.  The series is slated to begin production this year in Los Angeles for premiere in 2011.

"Supah Ninjas' cinematic style and fantasy-fulfilling super hero adventures offer up a unique twist on the everyday trials of adolescence," said Cohn.  "This series adds another flavor to our hit live-action line up and gives our audience a broader assortment of comedy choices."  

Mike Fukanaga (Ryan Potter) was an average high school student – a little shy, a bit awkward, and hopelessly incapable of talking to girls. But when he discovers he descends from a long line of ninjas, that all begins to change. With the guidance of his holographic grandfather, Mike teams up with his best friend Owen (Carlos Knight) and his crush Amanda (Gracie Dzienny) to form the "Supah Ninjas", a secret team of ninja crime fighters protecting the city from criminals. As if fighting crime and surviving high school weren't hard enough, they are also sworn to conceal their identities, vowing to "stay in the shadows" and never to reveal their "supah" cool alter-egos.  Supah Ninjas was created by Eric Garcia and Leo Chu and is executive produced by Garcia, Chu, Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter-Bridgett.  The pilot was directed by Clark Mathis.

The feature film and television production company Varsity Pictures was founded by producer/director Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett. The company's credits include the television movie Fred: The Movie, which is based on internet sensation Fred Figglehorn.  The movie, which premiered on Nickelodeon earlier this month, drew 7.6 million total viewers and became this year's number-one TV cable movie with key kid 6-11 and kid 2-11 demos.  Varsity Pictures also produces Blue Mountain State for Spike TV and Sonny with a Chance for Disney. The duo's credits include several successful theatrical projects including Wild Hogs, Coach Carter and Norbit, which Robbins directed.  Brian Robbins began his producing/directing career at Nickelodeon as a partner in Tollin/Robbins Productions, creator of classic Nick series All That and Kenan & Kel.

Emmy-nominated duo Leo Chu and Eric Garcia were executive producers and show runners of the hit anime series Afro Samurai starring Samuel L. Jackson, which ran for two seasons on Spike TV. They recently expanded the franchise by writing and executive producing the television movie Afro Samurai: Resurrection also starring Lucy Liu, which made history as the first anime project to ever win a primetime Emmy Award.  Their recent writing credits include Pond Scum, a film based on their original pitch for Sony Pictures Animation, the next installment of the Scooby Doo franchise for Warner Bros. Animation, and the adaptation of My Neighbors The Yamadas for Disney and Studio Ghibli—the studio founded by legendary Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki. They also served as writers and producers for MTV's hugely successful Rock The Vote/Choose or Loose campaign.

Nickelodeon, now in its 31st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

SOURCE Nickelodeon