Newly Acquired Drama “Humans” to Premiere in October with Second Season to Debut in 2016
“Into the Badlands” Set for Global Debut Simultaneous to AMC U.S. Premiere on 15th November
AMC Confirms 15-Episode Order for Second Season of “Fear the Walking Dead”
New York – 3 August 2015 – AMC Global, the international AMC-branded television network, announced today that it has acquired the exclusive first window television rights to “Humans” from Endemol Shine International. The 8 x 60’ series will debut in most AMC Global territories* in October with a second season to premiere in 2016.
In addition, AMC Global announced today the simultaneous worldwide premiere of “Into the Badlands,” the innovative 6 x 60’ martial arts drama series from AMC Studios. AMC Global channels in most territories* will debut the series in conjunction with AMC U.S. on Sunday, 15th November at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and will then re-air in local time zones during primetime. The company previously announced it had secured exclusive first window international TV rights to the series.
One of this year’s most anticipated new series, “Fear the Walking Dead,” has received a 15-episode order for the second season which will air on AMC Global in 2016. The company recently announced that the first season will debut worldwide simultaneous to the AMC U.S. premiere on 23rd August at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT with repeats in local time zones during primetime.*
“AMC Global is delivering audiences around the world a superb line-up of exclusive original dramas anchored by our upcoming worldwide premiere of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’,” said Bruce Tuchman, President of AMC and Sundance Channel Global. “‘Humans’ and ‘Into the Badlands’ offer inspiring storylines with outstanding production values that will transport and captivate viewers. We’re thrilled to continue to showcase the incredible new dramas coming from AMC U.S. with a run of premiere content on our channels worldwide through the end of the year.”
AMC Global launched in late 2014 and is available in over 125 countries throughout Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Entertainment One (eOne) handles international distribution for “Into the Badlands” and “Fear the Walking Dead” for territories outside of the AMC Global footprint.
About “Humans”
Set in suburban London, “Humans” takes place in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a Synth – a highly developed, artificially intelligent servant eerily similar to its living counterpart. Penned by British writing partners Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (“Spooks,” Spooks: The Greater Good) and based on the award-winning Swedish sci-fi drama “Real Humans,” the series explores the emotional impact that comes as the lines between humans and machines become increasingly blurred. This bold new eight-part series is produced in conjunction with the UK’s Channel 4 and Kudos, the makers of “Utopia” and “Broadchurch,” as well as AMC U.S.
The series stands as a top five cable drama launch among adults 25-54 in the U.S. this season and has averaged 2.0 million viewers and 1.0 million adults 25-54 through its first four episodes in live+3 ratings. The first episode was Channel 4’s highest rated originated drama in 20 years; season one has attracted an 18.0% share of the UK viewing audience on Sundays between 9:00-10:00pm.
“Humans” stars William Hurt (A History of Violence, “Damages”) as Dr. George Millican, Katherine Parkinson (“The IT Crowd,” “The Honourable Woman”) as Laura Hawkins, Gemma Chan (“Sherlock,” “Dr. Who”) as Anita, Tom Goodman-Hill (“Mr. Selfridge,” The Imitation Game) as Joe Hawkins, Lucy Carless (“Code of a Killer”) as Mattie Hawkins, Colin Morgan (“Merlin,” “The Fall 2”) as Leo, Pixie Davis (“Utopia,” “The White Queen”) as Sophie Hawkins, Ivanno Jeremiah (“The Hollow Crown”) as Max, Theo Stevenson (In Bruges, Fred Claus) as Toby Hawkins, Emily Berrington (“24: Live Another Day,” “Sons of Liberty”) as Niska, Neil Maskell (“Utopia”) as D.S. Peter Drummond, Will Tudor (“Game of Thrones”) as Odi, Rebecca Front (“The Thick Of It,” “Just William”) as Vera, Danny Webb (“Dr. Who,” “Being Human”) as Hobb, and Sope Dirisu (“Utopia”) as Fred.
The series is produced by Kudos (“Utopia,” “Broadchurch,” “The Hour”) in association with Matador Films (“Real Humans”). Directed by Sam Donovan (“Utopia”), executive producers are Jane Featherstone (“Broadchurch,” “Utopia,” “The Hour”) and Derek Wax (“The Hour,” “Occupation,” “Lip Service”) for Kudos, with Chris Fry (“The Smoke”) producing for Kudos and Henrik Widman and Lars Lundström for Matador Films. The series was commissioned for Channel 4 in the UK by Piers Wenger, Beth Willis and Simon Maxwell, and Kristin Jones and Joel Stillerman for AMC.
About “Into the Badlands”
The series is set centuries from now, following a succession of natural and man-made catastrophes causing billions to perish and nations to collapse. A feudal society has emerged and the strongest and most brutal rose to wealth and power. This area came to be called the Badlands, and is divided among seven rival Barons who control the resources necessary to daily life and enforce their rule with the aid of loyal armies known as Clippers. Clippers enjoy status and comforts the general population can only dream of, and they are willing to sacrifice their lives in service to their Barons. Few Clippers ever live to see their 30th birthday, but Sunny (Daniel Wu) is no ordinary Clipper. Demonstrating lethal proficiency in martial arts, Sunny rose swiftly through the ranks to become Quinn’s (Marton Csokas) Head Clipper and most trusted advisor.
For decades, Quinn has been unchallenged as the Badlands’ most powerful Baron, but the territory’s newest Baron, The Widow (Emily Beecham), has begun staging brazen attacks on Quinn’s transport vehicles and is testing his appetite for a fight. One of those attacks leads Sunny to M.K. (Aramis Knight), a teenage boy who has survived a deadly ambush. Sunny soon comes to understand that the teen harbors a dark secret and has a hefty bounty on his head. As The Widow continues her campaign against Quinn, the destinies of the stoic assassin and the impetuous teenager become intertwined. In their evolution as teacher and student, each will discover his true purpose; together, they will embark on an odyssey that could mean the difference between chaos and enlightenment for everyone in the Badlands.
“Into the Badlands” stars Daniel Wu (Tai Chi Zero) as Sunny; Marton Csokas (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) as Quinn; Aramis Knight (The Dark Knight Rises) as M.K.; Oliver Stark (“Luther”) as Ryder; Emily Beecham (28 Weeks Later) as The Widow; Orla Brady (“Dr. Who,” “Fringe”) as Lydia; Sarah Bolger (“Once Upon a Time,” “The Tudors”) as Jade; Ally Ioannides (“Parenthood”) as Tilda; and Madeleine Mantock (Edge of Tomorrow) as Veil. From AMC Studios, the six-part series is created by executive producers/showrunners/writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, “Smallville”), and executive produced by Oscar®-nominated producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg (Pulp Fiction, Contagion), director David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, Shanghai Nights), fight director Stephen Fung (Tai Chi Zero, House of Fury) and Daniel Wu (Tai Chi Zero).
About “Fear the Walking Dead”
Living in the same universe as “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead” is a gritty drama that explores the onset of the undead apocalypse through the lens of a fractured family. Set in a city where people come to escape, shield secrets, and bury their pasts, a mysterious outbreak threatens to disrupt what little stability high school guidance counselor Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and English teacher Travis Manawa (Cliff Curtis) have managed to assemble. The everyday pressure of blending two families while dealing with resentful, escapist, and strung out children takes a back seat when society begins to break down. A forced evolution, a necessary survival of the fittest takes hold, and our dysfunctional family must either reinvent themselves or embrace their darker histories.
“Fear the Walking Dead” is executive produced by Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero, David Alpert and showrunner David Erickson and produced by AMC Studios. The series stars Kim Dickens as Madison, Cliff Curtis as Travis, Frank Dillane as Nick, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Liza, Ruben Blades as Daniel, Mercedes Mason as Ofelia and Lorenzo James Henrie as Chris.
* “Humans” will be seen in most AMC Global territories, and the series will continue to air on Channel 4 in the UK. “Into the Badlands” will be seen in a premiere window on all AMC Global channels except the UK where it will be seen in 2016. The first season of “Fear the Walking Dead” will launch on AMC exclusively on BT TV in the UK shortly after the U.S. premiere date.
About AMC Global
AMC Global, a business unit of AMC Networks International, commemorates favourite films from every genre and decade and showcases acclaimed first run original programming to bring audiences something deeper, something richer, Something More. The network has created some of the most award-winning series of the past decade that has re-defined dramatic storytelling. In addition to being widely distributed throughout North America, AMC is available in over 125 countries. AMC Global is a premier entertainment destination that is available in HD and SD and across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.
About AMC Networks International
AMC Networks International (AMCNI), the global division of AMC Networks, delivers entertaining and acclaimed programming that reaches subscribers in more than 140 countries and territories, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. AMCNI consists of global brands, Sundance Channel and AMC, as well as popular, locally recognized channels in various programming genres. For more information, visit: www.www.amcnetworks.com/amcni.
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