New York, New York – June 14, 2012 – Sundance Channel announced today that Luke Kirby (Take This Waltz, The Samaritan) has been cast as a key series regular in the highly anticipated original drama series “Rectify.” The hour-long drama was created and written by Ray McKinnon (The Accountant, That Evening Sun, Mud) who also serves as executive producer on the project under his shingle Zip Works. Gran Via’s Mark Johnson (Rain Man, The Notebook, The Chronicles of Narnia) and Melissa Bernstein will serve as executive producers. This marks the second project for Johnson and Bernstein with AMC Networks. The first is AMC’s Emmy Award®-winning series, “Breaking Bad”. The series represents the first wholly owned Sundance Channel scripted production. “Rectify” began shooting in Atlanta on June 13th.
“Rectify” follows the life of Daniel Holden (Aden Young) upon his release from prison after serving nineteen years on Georgia’s Death Row for the rape and murder of a sixteen year old girl. After DNA evidence casts doubt on his conviction, Holden returns to his family and to his hometown where the murder occurred and where many still believe he is guilty. Daniel spent all of his adult life waiting to die; now he must learn how to live again or decide if he even wants to while others determine whether or not he will have that chance.
Kirby plays Jon Stern, a lawyer who has worked for years to get Holden released. Kirby is represented by Gene Parseghian from Parseghian Planco (US), Randi Goldstein at Gersh Agency and Kishwar Iqbal from Gary Goddard Agency (Canada).
Kirby joins cast members: Aden Young (Killer Elite, The Tree), Abigail Spencer (Cowboys and Aliens, “Mad Men”), Clayne Crawford (“Justified,” “Leverage”), Adelaide Clemens (“Lie to Me”, No One Lives) and J. Smith Cameron (“True Blood”, “Law and Order”).
Kirby has a long history of acting and trained at the National Theater School of Canada. Upon graduating, Luke began working on the CBS/Alliance miniseries “Haven” and Director Lea Pool’s feature, Lost and Delirious. Kirby will next appear in Take This Waltz opposite Michelle Williams. In addition to feature films and television, Kirby has a robust theater background, having performed in the Factory Theatre’s production of “Geometry in Venice,” a performance that garnered him a Best Actor nomination at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards.
About Sundance Channel
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About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global, an international programming business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming feed origination and distribution company.