Sam Raimi Horrifies Fearnet

Director Sam Raimi will produce the first two original series for Fearnet, the multiplatform horror/thriller site launched five months ago by Sony, Comcast and Lionsgate, Variety reported.

Both projects are moving ahead, with the first set to debut by early June. Raimi will produce via Ghost House Pictures, the joint venture he and Rob Tapert run with Mandate's Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane.

Fearnet president Diane Robina said each series will run seven episodes, with storylines continuing week-to-week. Episodes will be ad-supported and run between three and five minutes.

They'll be available on all Fearnet platforms: on-demand cable, streaming Internet video and mobile devices.

Up first from Raimi is Devil's Trade, which follows three teenagers who find themselves cursed after buying an item off a Web site. Ben Ketai wrote the script, and Toby Wilkins will direct.

The second project, also penned by Ketai, will serve as a prequel to 30 Days of Night, the Ghost House and Columbia Pictures feature about vampires who feast on an isolated Alaskan town, based on Steve Niles' graphic novel. The series will debut in advance of the October release of the movie.

- The Monster