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Yancy Butler quickly came to grips with the awesome power of the Witchblade, the mystical gauntlet whose wearer is granted incredible abilities. As the chosen wearer of the Witchblade -- and the star of TNT’s August "Witchblade" TV movie -- Butler grew to fear and respect the ancient artifact.

"Hey, that glove was cold," Butler said with a laugh in between takes at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto as a makeup assistant dabbed at her face. "And heavy. At least we had a rubber one that which was lighter. We liked the rubber one."

But Butler, a star of films like "Drop Zone" and TV’s "Brooklyn South," wasn’t the only cast and crew member bowled over by the power of the Witchblade.

"We all learned about this thing," admitted producer Perry Husman. "We had seven different gloves, we had it designed so it had some special effects, a stiletto blade shooting out of it, a gem with an eyeball and an eyelid that would open and close to show emotion. Of course, the first time we went to shoot out the knife it didn’t work."

Misfiring gauntlet gloves aside, the "Witchblade" TV movie has been right on target so far. Optimism is high for the prospects of this TV movie which will air on TNT on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. (ET) -- just don’t call it a pilot, although most people associated with this project hope, and expect, the property to become an ongoing series.

As Sara Pezzini, a New York City police detective who has stumbled onto the all-powerful Witchblade, Butler headlines a vibrant cast including David Chokachi ("Baywatch") as Det. Jake McCarthy, Anthony Cistaro ("Angel") as evil billionaire Kenneth Irons, Eric Etabari ("The Murder in China Basin") as Irons’ henchman Ian Nottingham and Will Yun Lee ("Profiler") as Pezzini’s partner Det. Michael Yee.

And the approach to the project -- while encompassing the first eight-issue story arc of the Witchblade comic -- has a decidedly grim’n’gritty feel to it.

"We pressed for the look to be ‘NYPD Blue’ meets the ‘X-Files,’ " said Top Cow Publisher Marc Silvestri, an executive producer on the project.

That’s why Director Ralph Hemecker, a veteran of such TV shows as "X-Files" and "Millennium" was recruited.

"I liked the characters and the fusions of the worlds," explained Hemecker. "It’s Excalibur meets a New York City detective."

As part of that fusion of worlds, the emphasis will be on the cop drama portion of the project, and less on some of the fantastical elements of the comic.

"This is a reality based urban cop show," said Husman. "A comic book can be more fantasy oriented. In live action, you have to be more literal."

Here’s what fanboys can count on seeing that they’re familiar with. The core cast of characters will remain the same with one slight deviation, Irons’ right-hand man Nottingham will be decidedly younger in the film. Etebari, who helped shape the look of Nottingham, embraced the ability to play a chameleon-like character.

"I want the character to constantly evolve," explained Etebari, who met Witchblade statue maker Clayburn Moore while filming in Toronto and acquired a signed statue from him. "I want to change his look, his clothes, his appearance. One day he’s all in black, one day he’s all in white."

On this day, Etebari wears nothing but black, adopting a Serpico-like undercover look with a long trenchcoat, combat boots and wool hat. He spots a stack of Witchblade comics on the floor and asks, "Can I have these?" As he pores through a comic, Butler rocks back and forth on a stage below, prepping for her next scene. The Danforth Music Hall is bathed in bright red from its torn drapes to ripped up theater seats, intended to resemble the Rialto Theater in Witchblade #1. But forget the Witchblade tournament that took place in the comic, it’s nowhere to be found in the film. Looking street-tough in a black leather jacket, blue jeans, boots and elbow-length gauntlet, Butler spars with a stunt director on-stage, practicing spin kicks with black belt-like precision.

"You buy (Yancy) as a cop," said Silvestri. "She’s very attractive but she looks like she’s walked the street as a cop, like she’s seen some bad things. She’s seen the underbelly of society."

But in this scene, Butler’s ready to see the underbelly of a stage. Rocking back and forth at the edge of the stage, Butler awaits director Hemecker’s command.

"Action," shouts Hemecker, and Butler leaps off the stage, firing a revolver in mid-air at an imaginary target to her right. She crash lands into a safety mat, craning her neck to see Hemecker’s reaction. Church-like silence envelops the hall as everyone awaits Hemecker’s response.

Ten seconds of quiet grows to 15 before Hemecker’s voice pierces the air.

"Perfect," he announces and cast and crew alike burst into applause.

Butler happily sinks into the mat before bouncing to her feet, an ear-to-earn grin creasing her face.

"She’s a professional," Etebari raves, putting down his comic to admire Butler’s scene. "You look in Yancy’s eyes, she’s not BS-ing you. I can’t just show up and be handsome guy. She’ll eat me alive."

"She’s the quarterback," chips in Will Yun Lee who portrays Pezzini’s partner, Det. Michael Yee. "She understands she’s the boss and goes out of her way to get everyone involved."