Executive Produced by Academy Award Winner Danny Boyle and Starring Brit Marling and James Nesbitt
New York, NY, May 14, 2014 – SundanceTV announced today its next original scripted series “Babylon,” which it is co-producing with UK broadcaster Channel 4. The drama is a biting workplace satire set inside a modern police force. The story revolves around an earnest executive who attempts to modernize the culture only to discover her certainties shattered and herself undermined in the murky realpolitik of contemporary policing. The series is executive produced by Academy Award® winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later, Trainspotting) and stars Brit Marling (Another Earth, Sound of My Voice) and James Nesbitt (The Hobbit, Millions). The series is penned by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show, The Old Guys, Fresh Meat) and produced by Robert Jones (The Usual Suspects, Dirty Pretty Things) and Derrin Schlesinger (Southcliffe, Four Lions). It will premiere on SundanceTV in 2015.
Sarah Barnett, President of SundanceTV, stated, “Startlingly frank and at times hilarious, ‘Babylon’ is a highly entertaining satirical drama that entirely fits with SundanceTV’s mission to deliver unique and surprising content. As you’d expect with Danny Boyle’s first foray into television, this project is unrelentingly original, and underneath its stylish surface has true heart.”
The series follows Liz Garvey (Marling), a new-media savvy American who’s parachuted in to revolutionize the public relations department of London’s largest police force. This series balances the clash of cultures and age, the embrace of transparency and technology and the strain of home and work life with a mix of drama and humor.
Directed by Danny Boyle, the feature length pilot “Babylon” aired on Channel 4 in the UK in early 2014 with the series airing on the UK broadcaster this autumn. SundanceTV is co-producing these six new TV format episodes which will air in completion in 2015.
Jon S. Baird, director of the multi award-winning Filth, directs the first three episodes of the 6×60 series, with Sally El Hosaini – awarded Best Newcomer at both BFI London Film Festival and Evening Standard Film Awards for her debut feature My Brother the Devil – directing episodes 4-6. BAFTA winner Jon Brown (Misfits, Fresh Meat) joins the writing team for two episodes of the series. Babylon is created and exec produced by Danny Boyle, Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Robert Jones.
The network has a robust lineup of upcoming scripted originals including the second season of critically acclaimed “Rectify” from the producers of “Breaking Bad” which will premiere on June 19th. Its highly anticipated original mini-series, “The Honorable Woman” starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, will premiere on July 31st, and recently announced “One Child” will premiere at the end of 2014.
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About SundanceTV
SundanceTV is making and celebrating television as distinctive as the best independent films. Working with today’s most remarkable talent, SundanceTV is attracting viewer and critical acclaim for its original scripted and unscripted series. Launched in 1996 and owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., SundanceTV delivers on the spirit of founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity.
About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCX) owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, 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 and AMCN Chellomedia, international programming businesses that reach over 138 countries, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming origination and distribution company.
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