Spike TV will begin production on its first scripted series next week, an adaptation of the comic book-turned-movie franchise Blade.

Actor/rapper Kirk Jones, aka Sticky Fingaz, will take the lead role in the two-hour pilot, playing the half-man, half-vampire who protects humanity against the vampire underworld. David S. Goyer, who wrote all three Blade films and directed Blade: Trinity, is co-writing the pilot and will serve as an executive producer.

"'Blade,' as envisioned by David Goyer, is perfectly suited for Spike TV and its male viewers," says Pancho Mansfield, who oversees original programming at Spike TV. "Consistent with Goyer's feature film work, the new 'Blade' promises to capture what men want to see: thrilling action and effects combined with an intelligent and highly creative story."

Jones, who recently starred in FX's Over There and UPN's Platinum , will be joined in the cast by Jill Wagner ("Punk'd"), Neil Jackson ("Alexander") Jessica Gower and Nelson Lee (USA's "Traffic").

Goyer is writing the pilot with comic-book scribe Geoff Johns; the two have previously worked together on the "Justice Society of Ameri ca" comic for DC Comics. Peter O'Fallon ("House," "Las Vegas") will direct the pilot, which is scheduled for a June 2006 premiere.

Source: ZapTV