"Crash," a new original drama series based on the Academy Award-winning Best Picture will debut exclusively on Starz in 2008. The 13-episode, one-hour series, co-produced with Lionsgate, will be Starz's first ever original drama.

Key members of the Oscar-winning theatrical production team are onboard for the series, including the film's director, co-writer and producer Paul Haggis, co-writer and producer Bobby Moresco, producer Bob Yari, producer Don Cheadle, producer Mark R. Harris and executive producer Tom Nunan.

Crash, which was distributed by Lionsgate, marks only the second time a Best Picture Oscar-winner has been turned into a series. "In the Heat of the Night" was the first. Production on the drama is scheduled to begin in the spring.

"'Crash' introduced a whole range of fascinating characters and engrossing, intertwined stories that are ideally suited for developing into a TV series," commented Starz VP Stephan Shelanski.

"This series will present an opportunity to delve into many subjects, not just race relations in LA," said Cheadle. "I don't think you can do 13 episodes on that subject and keep people interested. The challenge will be to craft the series characters in such a way as to get beneath the skin that supposedly differentiates them and create entertaining story lines that show the hurdles and obstacles we all struggle to overcome day to day."