Today's Variety reports that the Witchblade TV series is on hiatus while Yancy Butler, who plays a New York City police detective on the series, is undergoing voluntary treatment for alcoholism.  So far at least six of this season's 13 episodes have been completed, and the premiere for the Top Cow-produced series on the TNT cable network remains set for June 16.  According to Variety the producers are planning to go back into production sometime in the next few weeks -- and that the 'producers and network plan to stick with Butler, if at all possible, though they have put out feelers for a replacement.'

 

The Witchblade TV series, which is based on the Top Cow comic book, is the most successful original series in TNT history.  Last summer the show provided double digit increases in household ratings and key demographics for the network.  The success of the series has provided Top Cow Productions with credibility and clout in the highly competitive Hollywood environment.