Hanks, Spielberg`s $200 mn mini-series comes to India

New Delhi: How much does it take to make a 10-part mini-series for a channel? USD 200 million in this case, as Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and filmmaker Steven Spielberg have put in for World War II drama "The Pacific", which will be aired in India now. The series is going on air May 30 on HBO.

"At USD 200 million, this is the most expensive mini-series at HBO and it looks at the humane side of war. Shot at actual locations, it has 138 roles and the principal photography of the same took 10 months," said Shruti Bajpai, country manager, HBO South Asia. "We were ready to launch `The Pacific` in the US and India simultaneously, but that time was apt to play in the US but not in India as it was exams time and IPL (Indian Premier League) was going on here, but it (the series) is here in the same season," she added. "The Pacific" is produced by HBO, Seven Network Australia, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman`s Playtone and Steven Spielberg`s DreamWorks Television. The period war series has an Indian connect too as some of the costumes for the same were made in India, said Bajpai. Based on two memoirs of US Marines - "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa" by Eugene Sledge and "Helmet for My Pillow" by Robert Leckie - the series premiered in the US March 14 to positive reviews. James Badge Dale, Jon Seda and Joseph Mazzello play leads in the series that focuses on the US Marine Corps` actions in the Pacific. HBO India is also coming out with three other original series this year - "Bored To Death", Golden Globe nominated series "Hung" and "The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency". HBO is also planning to bring third and seventh seasons of hit series "True Blood" and "Entourage" to India. IANS