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[via press release]

Cartoon Network Assembles Cast for Ben 10: Alien Swarm

Principal Photography on Live-Action/CGI Original Movie Begins in Atlanta

Cartoon Network announced the start of production on Ben 10: Alien Swarm, an all-new, live-action movie based on the hit animated series Ben 10 Alien Force that will premiere on the network in fall 2009. The original movie will commence principal photography in Atlanta, Ga. Alex Winter returns to direct and executive-produce the latest installment in the Ben 10 franchise from a script penned by screenwriter John Turman (Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer and The Hulk). Winter directed Cartoon Network’s first Ben 10 live-action movie, Ben 10: Race Against Time, which scored over 13 million viewers during its Thanksgiving weekend premiere in 2007.

Ben 10: Alien Swarm follows teenage hero Ben Tennyson as he breaks ranks from the Plumbers (a secret organization that battles alien forces) to help Elena, a mysterious young woman, uncover an alien threat to our world. Joining him on his adventures are Gwen and Kevin, super-powered heroes in their own right, who must trust each other’s instincts to help save the day.

Ryan Kelley (Letters from Iwo Jima) stars in the coveted role of 15-year-old Ben Tennyson, who, armed with the OMNITRIX, can transform into 10 different aliens. Barry Corbin (No Country for Old Men), who stars as Grandpa Max, draws upon his past experiences with the paranormal to help guide and protect Ben and Gwen. Galadriel Stineman (Junkyard Dog) is Gwen, Ben’s super-powered cousin and voice of reason. Newcomer Nathan Keyes plays Kevin Levin, who has joined Ben’s team for the good of the universe but still seems to have a scheming side. Alyssa Diaz (Little Black Book) plays Elena, a long-time friend of Ben. Elena’s search for her father leads the group into an adventure to stop an alien threat from destroying the world.

The animated Ben 10 Alien Force series premiered in April 2008 and was the most-watched original series premiere in Cartoon Network history among kids 6-11. Ben 10: Alien Force continues the Ben 10 saga five years later when 15-year-old Ben Tennyson chooses once again to put on the OMNITRIX and discovers that it has reconfigured his DNA and can now transform him into 10 brand new aliens. Along with his super-powered cousin Gwen Tennyson and his equally powerful former enemy Kevin Levin, Ben joins forces with other young heroes to save the galaxy and his Grandpa Max.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.