Tom Hanks to produce sci-fi series online

(AFP/VALERIE MACON)

Actor Tom Hanks will present a new web-based animated series called Electric City, depicting an optimistic future - not a dystopian world - and based on the actor's concept and script, to hit the internet early next year.

On September 30, Hanks announced his Playtone company would bring Electric City to the internet early next year in partnership with India's Reliance Big Entertainment, which invested $825 million with Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks studio to develop films for an international audience.

Three-minute webisodes will be shown in 20 installments following socially conscious themes like energy consumption and freedom of information. The franchise might expand into graphic novels and video games, he suggested to The New York Times.

RC