Spike TV has announced that production is set to begin March 28 in Pittsburgh, PA on the fast-paced, thrilling original scripted eight-hour dramatic event The Kill Pit, starring Emmy Award-winner and Golden Globe nominee John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg. Steve Shill (The Sopranos, The Wire, Rome and the upcoming series The Tudors) has been signed to direct all eight hours and will serve as a co-executive producer of the series from Lionsgate in association with Mandeville. The Kill Pit is slated to premiere on Spike TV on Sunday, July 22.

Written by James DeMonaco (The Negotiator, Assault on Precinct 13) and Todd Harthan (Skinwalkers), who also serves as series co-producer; and executive produced by David Hoberman (Monk, Bringing Down the House), Todd Lieberman (Wild Hogs, Bringing Down the House) and DeMonaco, the series revolves around a downtown bank robbery by a team of American Iraqi-War veterans that goes terribly awry and the hostage negotiations that ensue. More than a dozen hostages from all walks of life are taken, ranging from the daughter of a business tycoon to co-workers in a heated relationship. Throughout the eight-hour event, viewers will follow the escalating action as the volatile soldiers plot their way out, the negotiator anticipates their moves and the hostages desperately try to survive. Time is critical and the game intensifies with surprising twists at every turn.

Peter Appel ("NYPD Blue"), Dana Ashbrook ("Deadwood"), Adam Cantor, Steve Cirbus ("Law & Order"), Jeremy Davidson ("Cold Case"), Christine Evangelista ("Law & Order"), Jennifer Ferrin ("Rescue Me"), Leo Fitzpatrick ("The Wire"), Frank Grillo ("Prison Break"), Michael Hogan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent"), Michael Hyatt ("Grey's Anatomy"), Mike McGlone ("The Brothers McMullen") Wayne Kasserman ("Law & Order: SVU") round out the cast of "The Kill Pit."

Dont't forget to also check out: The Killpoint