Four Stars: “a shattering serial killer drama that breaks all the rules” – The Guardian
Four Stars: “The show is gripping from start to finish” … “Everyone brings their A-game” – Radio Times
Four Stars: “superior true crime that focuses on the Yorkshire Ripper’s victims” – The Telegraph
WATCH THE FULL SEASON NOW – SCREENERS.COM
WATCH AND EMBED OFFICAL TRAILER
NEW YORK – February 15, 2024 – Bringing a new perspective to the well-documented story of the ‘Yorkshire Ripper,’ the compelling 7-episode drama The Long Shadow premieres with two episodes on Thursday, March 21 on Sundance Now and AMC+, with additional episodes dropping weekly on both platforms. With the victims and their families at the heart of the series, The Long Shadow is written by George Kay (Hijack, Litvinenko, Killing Eve) and directed by BAFTA® Award-winner Lewis Arnold (Des, Broadchurch, Sherwood).
When a mother of four is found murdered near her home in October 1975, DCS Dennis Hoban (BAFTA® Award-winner Toby Jones, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Tetris) leads the investigation but is frustrated in his efforts to find her killer. After a succession of further murders, it dawns on the detectives that they are dealing with a serial killer. Bereft of serious leads, Hoban is quickly sidelined from the investigation by Chief Constable Ronald Gregory (Michael McElhatton, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Chernobyl, Game of Thrones), who seeks to run the investigation his way. After subsequent murders, Gregory appoints Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield (David Morrissey, Sherwood, The Walking Dead, State of Play) to take over the inquiry.
As time moves on, Oldfield is galvanized by the arrival of a series of letters and a tape, purportedly from the killer himself. But even with this seemingly concrete evidence the murders only continue, and the investigative squad become fatally entrenched in their belief that the killer means to target sex workers. Eventually the team decides to go public with a massive press appeal, hoping to flush out the sender and as a result, the killer.
But with this acting as a distraction, the killer is able to strike again and again, sparking waves of protests among young women across the country to reclaim the streets. After a chance arrest, the killer is finally identified and caught. Through the eyes of his many victims – the survivors, the mothers and fathers, and the many children – we understand that the emotional effects and shockwaves these crimes caused will last through the decades.
The Long Shadow features a prominent ensemble cast of Katherine Kelly (Gentleman Jack, The Night Manager, Happy Valley) as Emily Jackson, Daniel Mays (Des, Line of Duty, Good Omens) as Sydney Jackson, Liz White (Call the Midwife, Anatomy of a Scandal, The Chelsea Detective) as PS Meg Winterburn, Jill Halfpenny (Everything I Know About Love, The Drowning, Liar) as Doreen Hill, Jack Deam (Father Brown, Silent Witness, DCI Banks) as DI Les Hanley, Chloe Harris (The Ipcress File, Nolly, Sherwood) as WPC Jenny Bush and Mark Stobbart (Line of Duty, Disobedience) as Peter Sutcliffe.
The Long Shadow, a Sundance Now Original series, is written by George Kay and directed by Lewis Arnold, who also serve as executive producers. Willow Grylls (Dalgliesh, Des) and Elaine Pyke (Dalgliesh, Des) are also executive producers. Sarah Lewis (Victoria, Noughts + Crosses) serves as series producer, while Matt Sandford (Des, Cobra) serves as producer. The series is produced by New Pictures. All3Media handles the international distribution.
EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS
Episode 1 – Premieres Thursday, March 21 on Sundance Now and AMC+
When a woman is murdered in Leeds, the police struggle to catch her killer. Meanwhile, facing financial hardship, a desperate mother makes a difficult decision to keep her family afloat.
Episode 2 – Premieres Thursday, March 21 on Sundance Now and AMC+
In the devastating wake of more linked murders, the police face the prospect of a serial killer at large. But could the testimony of a survivor turn the tides?
Episode 3 – Premieres Thursday, March 28 on Sundance Now and AMC+
The investigation spreads to Bradford with the murder of another young woman. A female police officer is tasked with dangerous undercover work, while for the real sex workers, that danger is ever present.
Episode 4 – Premieres Thursday, April 4 on Sundance Now and AMC+
When another woman survives an attack, detectives hope they are in with a chance of finding their man. A driver in Leeds emerges as prime suspect, but does the evidence stand up?
Episode 5 – Premieres Thursday, April 11 on Sundance Now and AMC+
As the number of murders increases, the police revisit historic attacks in the hope of identifying further victims. George Oldfield is fired up by the arrival of a letter from the killer.
Episode 6 – Premieres Thursday, April 18 on Sundance Now and AMC+
West Yorkshire Police launch a massive public appeal in the hope of rooting out the killer as some detectives begin to voice concerns about the direction of the investigation and veracity of their evidence.
Episode 7 – Premieres Thursday, April 25 on Sundance Now and AMC+
After a chance arrest, the killer is finally caught. In the wake of Sutcliffe’s trial, the failures of the investigation are laid bare.
NOTE TO EDITORS
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AMC Networks’ Sundance Now offers cross-genre escapism for insightful viewers seeking fresh perspectives, thought-provoking experiences and transportive journeys to far-off places. With a rich selection of engrossing dramas and romance, imaginative fantasy, gripping mysteries, to riveting true crime and intelligent thrillers, Sundance Now programming features empowered characters telling one-of-a-kind of stories from around the world – all streaming commercial-free. Sundance Now houses critically-acclaimed and award-winning original and streaming exclusive series including popular supernatural thriller A Discovery of Witches (Matthew Goode, Teresa Palmer), multi-Emmy winner State of the Union (Rosamund Pike, Chris O’Dowd; Patricia Clarkson, Brendan Gleeson), recent breakout dark comedies SisterS (Sarah Goldberg, Susan Stanley) and Totally, Completely Fine (Thomasin McKenzie), glamourous coastal drama Riviera (Julia Stiles), British true crime thriller Des (David Tennant), French spy drama The Bureau, Australian psychological thriller The Secrets She Keeps (Laura Carmichael), acclaimed Swedish drama The Restaurant, Motherland (Anna Maxwell Martin, Lucy Punch, Joanna Lumley), and Total Control (Rachel Griffiths, Deborah Mailman), to name a few; alongside riveting true crime series including Dating Death, The Heiress and the Heist and the True Crime Story franchise. Sundance Now can be enjoyed for $6.99/month or $4.99/month with an annual membership. No cable subscription is needed. Facebook: @SundanceNow – Twitter: @sundance_now
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AMC+ is the company’s premium streaming bundle featuring an extensive lineup of popular and critically acclaimed original programming from AMC, BBC America, IFC, and SundanceTV and full access to targeted streaming services Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited, which feature content such as A Discovery of Witches, Creepshow, and Boyhood. The service features a continually refreshed library of commercial-free content, with iconic series from the AMC Networks portfolio including Mad Men, Halt & Catch Fire, Hell on Wheels, Turn: Washington’s Spies, Rectify, Portlandia, Orphan Black and series from The Walking Dead Universe, among many others. The service also offers a growing slate of original and exclusive series including Gangs of London, Dark Winds, and the first two series in a new Anne Rice universe, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches. With new movies released every Friday, AMC+ is the newest destination for exclusive film premieres direct from theaters all year long. AMC+ is available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain and is available in the U.S. through AMCPlus.com, the AMC+ app, and a number of digital and cable partners.