Crackle to Develop Drama ‘The Butcher’

Digital streamer Crackle has announced plans to partner with producers Douglas Urbanski and Gary Oldman of Flying Studios Pictures on the original drama, “The Butcher.” Written by Charles Burmeister (“Columbus Day”), “The Butcher” is a modern story of one man’s epic investigation to find, hunt down, and kill a serial killer who lives among us — someone who is very human, but also beyond human. Along the way, the story’s hero, a hardened Los Angeles homicide detective named Mitch Dixon, must uncover the mystery of who The Butcher is, how he operates, and come to terms with the unbelievable truth that he has discovered the key to immortality, the price of which is consuming human flesh.

In a joint statement, Urbanski and Oldman said: “We are incredibly pleased to be working with the wonderful creative team at Crackle on this unusual, and hopefully gripping and creepy show as part of our effort to expand our creative energies beyond motion pictures and into the land of streaming television. ‘The Butcher’ marks our first step in bringing entertainment directly into our homes and we could not be happier with the collaboration.”

Eric Berger, GM of Crackle and CDO, Sony Pictures Television Networks, added: “Viewers are obsessed with the supernatural and we see an opportunity, in partnership with Gary, Douglas and Charles, to introduce fans to a new kind of narrative around the genre. It’s a privilege to work with some of the best in the business and we look forward to working closely with such an incredibly talented team in the months ahead.”