Starz Announces Premiere Dates for ‘The Chair,’ ‘Survivor’s Remorse’

Starz’s original filmmaking experiment, “The Chair,” will premiere at 11 p.m. Sept. 6, the cabler announced today.

The series, created by “Project Greenlight” and “Good Will Hunting” executive producer Chris Moore, is a 10-part documentary that follows two first-time directors through the process of bringing their debut feature to the big screen. The up-and-coming directors, who have unique backgrounds and skill sets, were provided with an identical screenplay and challenged to craft their own film. The show will follow the creation, marketing and theatrical release of both adaptations, which will also air on Starz. Both directors received the same budget and used locations in the same city, Pittsburgh. Through multiplatform voting, viewers will determine which director will be awarded the $250,000 prize.

Filmmakers Shane Dawson and Anna Martemucci adapted “How Soon Is Now,” a coming-of-age, feature-length comedy written by Dan Schoffer that chronicles the first homecoming on Thanksgiving weekend by a handful of college freshman who are stumbling toward adulthood.

“The Chair” is executive produced by Chris Moore and Anthony B. Sacco, in partnership with Starz and in association with the Steel Town Entertainment Project, Point Park University, WQED — Steeltown Incubator, Before the Door Pictures; Tunnel Post, the Brothers Henry and Shaderville.

On Oct. 4, following the premiere of half-hour comedy “Survivor’s Remorse” at 9 p.m., the show will shift timeslots and air at 10 p.m. for the remainder of the season.

“Survivor’s Remorse” is set in the world of professional basketball and explores what happens after becoming a star athlete. It follows Cam Calloway (Jessie T. Usher), a basketball phenom in his early 20′s who is suddenly thrust into the limelight after signing a multimillion-dollar contract with a professional basketball team in Atlanta. Cam, along with his cousin and confidant Reggie Vaughn (Ronreaco Lee), move to Georgia to start Cam’s journey to success. The two confront the challenges of carrying opportunistic family members and their strong ties to the impoverished community they come from. Cam, Reggie and an unforgettable group of characters wrestle with the rewards and pitfalls of stardom, love and loyalty. LeBron James, Tom Werner, Mike O’Malley, Maverick Carter and Paul Wachter serve as executive producers.

The network also announced that it will air “The Missing,” an eight-episode mystery drama starring James Nesbitt, Frances O’Connor and Tcheky Karyo, this fall, with a specific premiere date to be announced. Co-produced by the BBC, the show follows Tony (Nesbitt), a man devastated by the abduction of his young son during a family vacation in France. He becomes a man obsessed, unable to accept that his child may be dead. His exhaustive search fractures his marriage to Emily (O’Connor) and threatens to destroy his life. The show explores the impact of a child’s abduction, the emotional cost of obsession, hope and finding when to let go.

Related stories

'Better Call Saul': Cast, Timeline Details and New Photos

Can 'The Divide' Do for WE Tv What 'Mad Men' Did for AMC?

Ed Bernero Joins NBC's 'State of Affairs' as Showrunner

Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter