Is Mick Garris abandoning “Masters of Horror”? That’s what it sounds like from this new press release. Garris and the creators of MoH are teaming up with Lionsgate to produce a show called “Fear Itself” for NBC. And based on the description below, there is absolutely no difference between the two shows other than the title and network. So why the change? I would assume they did it for the money. The Hollywood Reporter says:

NBC has given the green light to “Fear Itself,” a horror-anthology series from the producers of Showtime’s “Masters of Horror.”

The network has ordered 13 episodes of “Fear” to air in the summer.

Lionsgate, one of the biggest feature players in the horror genre, is co-producing “Fear” along with Industry Entertainment, the company behind “Masters of Horror” and the anthology series “Masters of Science Fiction,” which aired this summer on ABC.

Like “Masters of Horror,” which featured such well-known filmmakers in the genre as John Carpenter, Joe Dante, John Landis, Dario Argento, Takashi Miike and series creator Mick Garris, “Fear” will consist of 60-minute films by big-name horror writers and directors. …

For Lionsgate, in addition to landing a series on a major broadcast network, the 13-episode guarantee helps the company monetize the show on the international market and on DVD. …

The series also will draw on Lionsgate’s deep bench of horror filmmaker talent, Beggs said. He credited Lionsgate president of acquisitions and co-productions Peter Block as one of the architects of the deal, along with Lionsgate TV COO Sandra Stern.

“Fear” is executive produced by Keith Addis, Andrew Deane and Garris, with Adam Goldworm and Ben Browning producing.

Production is slated to begin early next year.

Molly Celaschi