"The Polar Express" Makes Its Network Television Premiere December 1st  11/16/06

TAKE A JOURNEY BEYOND IMAGINATION WHEN "THE POLAR EXPRESS" MAKES ITS NETWORK TELEVISION PREMIERE AS THE "ABC FRIDAY MOVIE OF THE WEEK," DECEMBER 1

This holiday season "The Polar Express" roars into homes everywhere as the "ABC Friday Movie of the Week," DECEMBER 1 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Can children still believe in Santa Clause? In the Academy and Golden Globe Award-nominated "The Polar Express," one doubting child gets the surprise of his life when, while lying in bed wishing he could hear reindeer bells from Santa's sleigh in the final hours of Christmas Eve, an incredible event occurs: A roaring locomotive grinds and hisses to a halt outside his bedroom window. The mysterious conductor (voice of Tom Hanks) invites him to join the other children already aboard on a fantastical journey to the North Pole. It is an adventure filled with wonder and learning, at the end of which lies a gift that only those who believe can still experience.

The voice cast for "The Polar Express" features Tom Hanks ("The Davinci Code") as Hero Boy/Father/Conductor/Hobo/Scrooge/Santa Claus, Leslie Harter Zemeckis ("Blowback") as Sister Sarah/Mother, Eddie Deezen ("Kim Possible") as Know-It-All, Nona Gaye ("Crash") as Hero Girl, and Peter Scolari ("Sabrina, the Teenage Witch") as Lonely Boy.

The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis ("Monster House," "Gothika") and written by Zemeckis and William Broyles, Jr. ("Jarhead"), from the book by Chris Van Allsburg.

"THE POLAR EXPRESS" IN HDTV: "The Polar Express" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.

A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

Source: ABC Press Release