Author: Liz Isenberg

‘Belgravia: The Next Chapter’ Unveils New Trailer and Key Art

From the teams behind Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age,

Belgravia: The Next Chapter premieres on MGM+ January 14, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT 

Check out the trailer HERE

Download first look images for Belgravia: The Next Chapter HERE 

View captions and photo credits HERE

Catch up on Belgravia, the original limited series, for free on the MGM+ app and across participating partner platforms from Dec 31, 2023 – February 29, 2024. 

 

Belgravia: The Next Chapter is a continuation of the hit historical drama named for—and set in—the affluent London district that became synonymous with the upper echelons of London society in the 19th century. From the team behind Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age, this series follows the next generation of Belgravia’s residents alongside a few familiar faces.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter is a Carnival Films production and will be distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution. Carnival Films is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter picks up in 1871, three decades after the events depicted in the 2020 limited series, which was written by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age)  and based on his novel of the same name. Developed and written by critically acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Helen Edmundson, the series tells the love story of Frederick Trenchard (Benjamin Wainwright), the third Lord Trenchard, and his new love interest, Clara Dunn (Harriet Slater), who is a newcomer to London society. Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother Susan (Alice Eve) and the scoundrel John Bellasis (Adam James), a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure, which challenges his courtship of, and marriage to, Clara.

“I’m so proud of everything this dedicated team accomplished with the original Belgravia series. I cannot wait for the world to return to Belgravia for this new iteration, expertly crafted by Helen Edmundson,” said Julian Fellowes, Executive Producer. “Old and new fans alike will be swept off their feet with an emotionally engaging story, memorable characters, and brilliant production and costume design.”

The series stars Harriet Slater as “Clara Trenchard (née Dunn)”, Benjamin Wainwright as “Frederick Trenchard”, Edward Bluemel as “Dr. Stephen Ellerby”, Toby Regbo as “Rev. James Trenchard”, Hannah Onslow as “Emily Dunn”, Sophie Thompson as “Mrs. Dunn”, Claude Perron as “The Marquise D’Etagnac”, Sophie Winkleman as “the Duchess of Rochester”, and Elaine Cassidy as “Davison”. Alice Eve as “Susan Trenchard” and Richard Goulding as “Oliver Trenchard” also return from the original series. 

The series reunites Carnival’s award-winning creative team behind the original series. Led by Gareth Neame, he and Nigel Marchant serve as executive producers with Julian Fellowes and Joanna Strevens. Helen Edmundson serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series is directed by John Alexander, Paul Wilmshurst, Marisol Adler, and Roger Goldby. Colin Wratten, who produced the original series, returns as producer.

 

​​About Carnival Films

Carnival Films is a London-based television and feature film production company, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. Led by producers, Executive Chairman Gareth Neame and Managing Director Nigel Marchant, the company is one of the UK’s leading drama producers, having made hundreds of hours of compelling content viewed by millions across the globe. Carnival Films produced all six seasons of the award-winning and beloved TV phenomenon Downton Abbey, which aired in over 250 territories worldwide and set a Guinness World Record for being the most critically well-received show in the world. The company produced the hit feature film of the same name, which earned more than $200 million at the worldwide box office in 2019, making it the highest grossing film of all time for distributor Focus Features. The movie sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era was released in 2022. Other Carnival Films productions include Belgravia for ITV and EPIX, of which the spin-off series Belgravia: The Next Chapter is coming soon to MGM+, and smash-hit series The Last Kingdom for Netflix which captivated viewers for five seasons, and the  film Seven Kings Must Die, which ranked as the global #1 film on Netflix upon its release in April 2023. A contemporary TV remake of The Day of the Jackal and a five-part drama about the tragic Lockerbie bombing are also in production, both for Sky and Peacock. The company has also produced landmark series such as Poirot, Hotel Babylon, Whitechapel, and Dracula, along with the award-winning mini-series Traffik, Any Human Heart, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and The Hollow Crown anthology. Carnival has received a host of national and international awards including Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, and has been recognised as the UK’s best production company at both the Bulldog Awards and Broadcast Awards.

 

About MGM+ 

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic and limited series including The Winter King, Beacon 23, A Spy Among Friends, War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon,  My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and San Francisco Sounds: A Place in Time. Premium movies are also available, including Top Gun: Maverick, No Time to Die, Creed 3, House of Gucci, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Till, and Smile. 

With thousands of titles available for streaming, MGM+ is available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, emerging digital distribution channels, its MGM+ app, and all new Fire TV device purchases come with a six-month MGM+ subscription courtesy of Amazon. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to www.mgmplus.com or follow on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

 

For Further Information, please contact ID:

mgm+@id-pr.com

MGM+ Greenlights True-Crime Docuseries ‘The Wonderland Murders & The Secret History of Hollywood’

Based on the hit Audible exclusive podcast by Michael Connelly (Bosch; The Lincoln Lawyer) and directed by Alison Ellwood (San Francisco Sounds, Laurel Canyon) the four-part docuseries will delve into the infamous 1980s Los Angeles mass murder

LOS ANGELES—November 7, 2023—MGM+, a premium linear channel and streaming service, today announced it has greenlit the true-crime docuseries The Wonderland Murders & The Secret History of Hollywood (working title), based on Michael Connelly’s (Bosch; The Lincoln Lawyer) hit Audible podcast of the same name. Directed by Alison Ellwood (San Francisco Sounds, Laurel Canyon), the four-episode docuseries will be the definitive examination of the infamous Wonderland murder case in 1980s Los Angeles. The Wonderland Murders & the Secret History of Hollywood was released exclusively on Audible as a limited documentary podcast series and audiences have spent 150,000 hours listening to Connelly’s riveting investigation.

On July 1, 1981, four people were discovered severely beaten to death in a suburban home in Laurel Canyon on Wonderland Avenue. The murders’ aftermath spans two decades and reaches into present day with details, subplots, and investigative twists that prove the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction. From a bought-off juror to the biggest porn actor of his generation, an alleged corrupt federal agent and a kind of Zelig of Hollywood’s dark underbelly, much about the case remains unresolved, and there are people who got away with murder.

Through explosive in-depth reporting, new developments, rare archival footage, and pivotal testimony from “missing witness” Scott Thorson (best known as Liberace’s boyfriend and the writer of the tell-all Behind the Candelabra), Wonderland Murders will delve into the gruesome crime that has captured the public’s imagination for nearly half a century, and tell a broader story about Los Angeles, the American dream, and when justice does—and doesn’t—work.

“Wonderland Murders joins MGM+’s growing stable of smart, insightful, and thought-provoking true-crime docuseries,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “Michael Connelly is a renowned and tenacious crime writer, and Alison Ellwood is a visionary director, so there is no better team to explore one of Hollywood’s most notorious crimes.”

“I love Alison’s work and look forward to working with her and MGM+,” said Michael Connelly. “The Wonderland murders left an indelible impact on Hollywood, and exploring it with the original detectives and witnesses is exciting, and is going to help us answer many of the questions that are still out there.”

“Michael has curated an exceptional slate at MGM+, and we are thrilled Wonderland Murders will be in such illustrious company,” said Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman, heads of Sony Pictures Television’s The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC). “Alison is a filmmaker IPC has been chasing for years, and we feel incredibly fortunate we finally get to collaborate. Her take on Michael Connelly’s groundbreaking reporting will undoubtedly yield one the best true crime documentaries of the year.”

“It’s been one of the thrills of our professional lives to have worked with Michael Connelly over these past few years on the Wonderland podcast and now on the doc series,” said Jen Casey and Nick Gilhool. “And for the documentary adaptation to be led by Alison Ellwood, the consummate filmmaker, at a home like MGM+, with Michael Wright and Jill Burkhart, two of the best execs in the business, along with veteran storytellers Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman, and not to mention Rick Jackson with his inimitable expertise and access. We couldn’t imagine a greater team to usher this bigger-than-life story to the screen.”

“The Wonderland Murders has all the qualities of a page-turning thriller that fans expect from Michael Connelly’s novels, except that it’s also a true story,” said Rachel Ghiazza, Chief Content Officer at Audible. “We could not be more excited to see this unforgettable and incredibly well-told story come to life in a new format with the support of our Amazon colleagues at MGM+.”

The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television’s The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) and Miziker Content, and executive produced by Michael Connelly, Alison Ellwood, Jen Casey and Nick Gilhool, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for IPC, and Rick Jackson.

About Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly is a genre-defining writer who has sold over 85 million books worldwide. But before creating beloved characters that spawned popular movies and TV series such as Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer, he was a crime beat reporter at The Los Angeles Times. While there, talk of the Wonderland case was a contagious buzz through the newsroom, and he caught the bug. He followed the case closely then, and in the decades since, hasn’t been able to shake his fascination. Connelly dropped everything to return to his journalistic roots when his best friend (and model for his Harry Bosch character), Rick Jackson, called him in 2020 with news that the last witness to the Wonderland case resurfaced. The result has been a yearslong investigation, a No. 1 hit podcast, and a period of relationship building for Connelly with the major players, including that witness. Just like his most popular character Harry Bosch, Connelly returns again and again to the facts of the case. He has spent the last three years uncovering evidence, and it all comes back to one slippery character, Jackson’s source, Scott Thorson. In this series, Connelly serves as our guide, revealing the secrets of Hollywood—all through the entry point of the Wonderland Murders.

About The Intellectual Property Corporation

The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), a part of Sony Pictures Television, is an Emmy-winning content creation and production studio based in Van Nuys, California. Founded in 2016 by Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman, IPC develops and produces premium television, film, documentary, commercial, and interactive mobile content for global streamers and U.S. broadcast and cable networks. Recent productions include Indian Matchmaking and Night Stalker (Netflix); Secrets of Playboy (A&E); Selena + Chef (Max & Food Network) and The Climb (Max); We’re Here and The Swamp (HBO); This Is Paris (YouTube Originals); The Last Narc (Amazon); Empires of New York (CNBC); and Death in the Dorms and The Con (ABC). IPC is a two-time Emmy Award recipient and a Producers Guild Award recipient for its series Leah Remini: Scientology & the Aftermath (A&E).

About Audible

Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, offering global audiences a powerful way to enhance and enrich their lives through extraordinary content. Audible’s catalog includes more than 850,000 audio titles, including Audible Originals as well as audiobooks and podcasts from leading studios, print, audio and magazine publishers and world-renowned entertainers.

About MGM+

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic and limited series including The Winter King, Beacon 23, A Spy Among Friends, War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and San Francisco Sounds: A Place in Time. Premium movies are also available, including Top Gun: Maverick, No Time to Die, Creed 3, House of Gucci, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Till, and Smile.

With thousands of titles available for streaming, MGM+ is available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, emerging digital distribution channels, its MGM+ app, and all new Fire TV device purchases come with a six-month MGM+ subscription courtesy of Amazon. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to www.mgmplus.com or follow on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

Press contacts:

Liz Isenberg, MGM+

iseeliza@amazon.com

Lauren Dundee, MGM+

ldundee@vendor.mgm.com

MGM+ Picks Up Science-Fiction Thriller ‘Beacon 23’

Produced by Boat Rocker and based on the best-selling book by Hugh Howey, the series stars Emmy nominee Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Emmy and Golden Globe Nominee Stephan James (Homecoming)

The series is set to premiere on MGM+ on Sunday, November 12

Download images HERE

Credit: Rafy Winterfeld/Boat Rocker/MGM+

 

LOS ANGELES—September 20, 2023—MGM+, a premium linear channel and streaming service, today announced it has picked up the science-fiction mystery thriller and love story Beacon 23, based on the best-selling book by Hugh Howey. Produced by Boat Rocker, the global series premiere is scheduled to debut on Sunday, November 12 on MGM+ at 9:00 p.m. EST/PST with the first two of eight episodes. Zak Penn (Ready Player One, Free Guy) created the series, and executive produced along with Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead, The Shield).

Beacon 23 takes place in the farthest reaches of the Milky Way and follows Aster (Lena Headey), a government agent, and Halan (Stephan James), a stoic ex-military man, whose fates become entangled after they find themselves trapped together inside one of many Beacons that serve as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers. Every Beacon is run by one highly trained human and a specialized Artificial Intelligence. Aster mysteriously finds her way to the lonely Beacon-keeper Halan, and a tense battle of wills unfolds. Halan begins to question whether Aster is friend or foe, as her ability to disguise her agenda and motives could make her a formidable opponent.

“Beacon 23 is a series in the best tradition of thought-provoking genre storytelling,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “With the incredible vision of Zak Penn and Glen Mazzara, riveting performances by Lena Headey and Stephan James, and an exciting world-building design, Beacon 23 is essential viewing for fans of premium science-fiction drama.”

“We’re delighted to bring Beacon 23 to MGM+ and introduce viewers to a world in the dark recesses of space where nothing is quite what it seems,” said David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, Co-Executive Chairmen, Boat Rocker Media and Co-Chairmen, Boat Rocker Studios. “Beacon 23 is a rare psychological thriller whose rich characters and gripping storylines take you to some pretty unexpected places. We’re grateful to our creative partners for helping bring this epic story to life.”

Produced by Boat Rocker, Zak Penn and Glen Mazzara served as executive producers alongside David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, James Middleton, Nick Nantell,Tina Thor, Katie O’Connell Marsh, Elisa Ellis, Liz Varner, Ira Steven Behr, Daniel Percival, Joy Blake, Lena Headey, and Stephan James.

Boat Rocker oversees global distribution and licensing for Beacon 23.

 

About Boat Rocker

Boat Rocker is the home for creative visionaries. An independent, integrated global entertainment company, our purpose is to tell stories and build iconic brands across all genres and mediums. With offices around the world, Boat Rocker’s creative and commercial capabilities include Scripted, Unscripted, and Kids and Family television production, distribution, brand & franchise management, a world-class animation studio, and talent management through Untitled Entertainment. A selection of Boat Rocker’s projects include: Invasion (Apple TV+), Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (Hulu), Slip (Roku), Downey’s Dream Cars (Max), Orphan Black (BBC AMERICA, CTV Sci-Fi Channel), Dear…(Apple TV+), Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry (Apple TV+), The Next Step (BBC, Corus, CBC), Daniel Spellbound (Netflix), and Dino Ranch (Disney+, Disney Junior, CBC). For more information, please visit www.boatrocker.com.

About MGM+ 

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series Winter King, War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Murf the Surf. Premium movies are also available, including Top Gun: Maverick, No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Smile, Creed 3, and Till. 

MGM+ is available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, and emerging digital distribution channels, as well as through its MGM+ app, with thousands of titles available for streaming. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to www.mgmplus.com or follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

 

Press contacts:

Eileen Quast, MGM+

equast@amazon.com

 

Liz Isenberg, MGM+ 

iseeliza@amazon.com

MGM+ Picks Up Original True-Crime Docuseries ‘Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein’

Docuseries about brutal serial killer who inspired Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs will premiere on MGM+ in September

NEW YORK—June 6, 2023—MGM+ announced today that it has picked up the four-episode true-crime docuseries Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein, directed and executive produced by James Buddy Day (Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror, Fall River). It will premiere on MGM+ in September.

This MGM+ original docuseries follows the horrifying grave robber and serial killer Ed Gein, otherwise known as “The Plainfield Ghoul” and “The Mad Butcher,” whose crimes inspired such iconic films as Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs.

For years, filmmakers, journalists, and scholars have tried to unravel the mind of this notorious killer, and with new reveals and never-before-heard recordings, viewers will be transported to late-1950s Middle America and submerged in Gein’s perverse mind. The series explores Gein’s upbringing and twisted relationship with his mother (which famously inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho), his early grave robbing, the murders leading up to his arrest, and the police’s discovery of his terrifying house of horrors—all accompanied by the brand-new revelations revealed in the recordings.

“This gripping and disturbing docuseries shines a light on an infamous chapter in our true-crime history,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+.  “Psycho takes an in-depth look at not only the life of one of the most notorious serial killers of our time, but also explores the impact his crimes had on both the victims and our culture.”

Jill Latiano Howerton and Josh Kunau also serve as executive producers for Roots Productions. Amazon & MGM Studios Distribution will distribute the series internationally.

About Roots Productions

Roots Productions is a film and television production company dedicated to creating premium non-scripted and scripted content across a variety of platforms. Founded in 2019 by Jill Latiano Howerton and Joshua Kunau, their award-winning films have screened theatrically, across all major distribution platforms and premiered at nearly every major film festival, including Sundance, Berlin, Telluride, Toronto, and SXSW. Their collective credits include DIVE! Living off America’s Waste, GMO OMG, Under the Gun, The Devil We Know, The Biggest Little Farm, and most recently The Thief Collector. Roots both develops and produces original content as well as collaborates with established and emerging filmmakers to bring their stories to life. They currently have multiple films and series in various stages of development and production.

About Pyramid Productions Inc

Pyramid Productions is an award-winning production company, and leader in true crime, led by acclaimed director/showrunner James Buddy Day. Day and Pyramid’s widely recognized works include Dangerous Breed: Crime. Cons. Cats. (Peacock/Blumhouse/WWE), Look Into My Eyes (AMC/Blumhouse), Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror (MGM/Blumhouse), Fall River (MGM+/Blumhouse, CrimeCon CLUE Award for Best Docuseries 2022), The Anarchists (HBO/Blumhouse), What Happened, Brittany Murphy? (HBO Max/Blumhouse/ Pyramid Productions, nominated for HCA award for Best Streaming Docuseries), the Oxygen series, Florida Man Murders (Blumhouse/Man vs. Robot), Catching a Serial Killer: Bruce McArthur (Peacock Alley Ent, Canadian Screen Award winner for Best Documentary 2022), The Disappearance of the Millbrook Twins, The Lovers Lane Murders, and The Disappearance of the Susan Cox Powell (Texas Crew Productions), and Manson: The Women (Glass Entertainment).

About MGM+ 

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series A Spy Among Friends, War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Murf the Surf. Premium movies are also available, including Top Gun: Maverick, No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Smile, and Till.

MGM+ will continue to be available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, and emerging digital distribution channels, as well as through its MGM+ app, providing more movies than any other network with thousands of titles available for streaming. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to [www.mgmplus.com ] or follow on [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.]

Contact:

Eileen Quast:

equast@amazon.com

Liz Isenberg:

iseeliza@amazon.com

MGM+ Announces Casting and Start of Production on ‘Belgravia: The Next Chapter’

The hit historical drama produced by Carnival Films (Downton Abbey)

introduces a new generation of characters 

Headshots Available HERE

Season One Key Art/Stills Available HERE

Season One Photos Credit: Carnival Films

BEVERLY HILLS, California—March 8, 2023—Today, premium network MGM+ revealed today new casting for Belgravia: The Next Chapter, a continuation of the hit historical drama named for—and set in—the affluent London district that became synonymous with the upper echelons of London society in the 19th century. Filming commenced earlier this month in the UK, and the eight-part series is set to premiere in winter 2023.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter is a Carnival Films co-production with MGM+ Studios and will be distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution. Carnival Films is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter picks up in 1871, three decades after the events depicted in the 2020 limited series, which was written by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age) and based on his novel of the same name. Developed and written by critically acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Helen Edmundson (Dalgliesh, Mary Magdalene), the series tells the love story of Frederick Trenchard, who has grown up as the third Lord Trenchard, and his new love interest, Clara Dunn, who is a newcomer to London society. Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother Susan and the scoundrel John Bellasis, a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure, which challenges his courtship of and marriage to Clara.

Led by Gareth Neame, the series reunites Carnival’s award-winning creative team behind the original series. Neame and Nigel Marchant will serve as executive producers with Julian Fellowes and Joanna Strevens. Helen Edmundson serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series will be directed by John Alexander, Paul Wilmshurst and Marisol Adler. Colin Wratten (Killing Eve) who produced the original series, will return as producer.

 

New casting outlined below:

 

Harriet Slater – “Clara Trenchard (née Dunn)”

SERIES REGULAR

A young, smart, and striking woman, and a fresh face amongst the society of Belgravia, Clara is thrilled by her marriage to the enigmatic Frederick … but as she comes to learn more of her husband and the trauma he carries, Clara finds her marriage will not be as smooth as she first thought and is something she must fight for.

Bio: Best known as series regular “Sandra Onslow” in the HBO Max DC origin series Pennyworth, Slater recently wrapped filming as the lead in Sony Screen Gems’ Horrorscope as well as True Haunting, which has her starring alongside Jamie Campbell Bower and Erin Moriarty. Other screen credits include All Creatures Great and Small and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Slater is represented by The Artists Partnership in the UK and Untitled Entertainment in the U.S.

 

Ben Wainwright – “Frederick Trenchard”

SERIES REGULAR

The young and handsome third Lord Trenchard, Frederick takes after his grandfather with a ferocious work ethic, having built a large business empire. Immediately smitten with Clara, he marries her after a whirlwind romance, but brings with him traumas from his past that threatens his newfound happiness.

Bio: His recent credits include great roles on Sky Atlantic’s Gangs of London, and a guest lead on BBC One’s The Split. He also has a multi-episode arc on the BBC One series World on Fire, starring opposite Sean Bean and Lesley Manville.  His feature credits include the lead romantic role in The Conductor directed by Maria Peters, and the acclaimed A Quiet Passion opposite Cynthia Nixon. His additional TV Credits include ITV’s Endeavour and Unforgotten, Channel 4’s Pure, and War and Peace and The Boy with the Topknot for BBC One.

Wainwright is represented by Insight Management & Production.

 

Edward Bluemel – “Dr. Stephen Ellerby”

SERIES REGULAR

An idealistic, charming, and attractive young doctor, Stephen is brought into the society of Belgravia as he cares for Peter, son of the Duke of Rochester—a far cry from his life amongst the bohemians of Bloomsbury. He is quickly captivated by Clara after meeting her and starts to gain her trust as their lives interweave.

Bio: EDWARD BLUEMEL trained at the prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. He’s currently filming a leading role in a new Amazon Original called My Lady Jane, based on the historical fiction novels it stars Emily Bader as “Lady Jane Grey.” Edward is in the role of “Lord Guildford Dudlley,” joined by an impressive cast including Jordan Peters, Dominic Cooper, Jim Broadbent, Anna Chancellor, Rob Brydon, and Will Keen. In 2022 he filmed the mini-series Washington Black in Nova Scotia, starring Sterling K Brown “Ernest Kingsley Junior,” Tom Ellis, Charles Dance, and Rupert Graves, coming to Hulu in 2023. Bluemel was most recently seen in Ten Percent (Prime Video), the British adaption of the acclaimed French series Call My Agent, starring alongside Jack Davenport and Lydia Leonard. He also appeared alongside Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, and Henry Golding in the Netflix adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Other career highlights include the second and fourth season of the multi award-winning Killing Eve (BBC/AMC), A Discovery of Witches (Sky1/BBC America) playing the role of “Marcus Whitmore,” the Netflix original series Sex Education, Channel 4’s Traitors, a thriller set in the aftermath of the Second World War, and ITV’s period drama The Halcyon. His theatre credits include a lead role in Trevor Nunn’s critically acclaimed Love in Idleness (West End) and Touch (Soho Theatre), written and directed by Vicky Jones (director of the original stage production of Fleabag and one of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s frequent collaborators).

Bluemel is represented by Epilogue and Hamilton Hodell in the UK, Sugar23 and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern in the U.S.

 

Toby Regbo – “Rev. James Trenchard”

RECURRING

Frederick’s estranged brother, a gentle, kind and religious man, James is haunted by both the separation from his brother and a private battle he is determined to keep hidden.

Bio: Toby is best known for his leading roles in the CW Series Reign and The Last Kingdom. He starred in the latest series of Medici on Netflix and has had roles in films such as Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and One Day. Toby can most recently be seen in Series Three of A Discovery of Witches and Channel 4’s Chivalry. He has just finished shooting for a leading role In ITVX’s Platform 7, an upcoming psychological thriller, based on Louise Doughty’s phenomenal best-selling novel.

Regbo is represented by Independent Talent Group and Authentic Talent and Literary Management.

 

Hannah Onslow – “Emily Dunn”

RECURRING

Clara’s older sister, Emily responds to her sister’s swift marriage with a hint of jealousy as she is desperate to make her own match. But when she throws herself into charity work at her new church, she is instantly attracted to the Reverend James Trenchard.

Bio: Hannah’s growing resume positions her as one of a few, super exciting, up and coming actors working today. Graduating from RADA in 2019, Hannah circumnavigated covid to work opposite Rory Kinnear in Ridley Road for Red Productions; alongside Ben Wishaw in SISTER/BBC’s in This Is Going To Hurt and with Olivia Colman and Colin Firth in director Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light. Hannah’s other screen credits include the much-loved series Call the Midwife and the fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise, directed by James Mangold, starring Harrison Ford. Hannah recently finished shooting Sally El Hosaini’s feature film Unicorn and The Doll Factory for Paramount+.

Onslow is represented by Gordon and French.

 

Sophie Thompson – “Mrs. Dunn”

RECURRING

Emily and Clara’s devoted mother, Mrs Dunn is a nervous, giddy, and chatty widow who has moved to Belgravia with her daughters and is thrilled by Clara’s new marriage and the security in social standing it brings.

Bio: A six-time Olivier Award nominee and winner of the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Sophie Thompson has a career that spans film, television and theatre. In the theatre she most recently starred in Present Laughter at The Old Vic. On TV – Everything I Know About Love, Sandylands and a recurring role in BBC’s The Detectorists.

Thompson is represented by Independent Talent Group.

 

Claude Perron – “The Marquise D’Étagnac”

SERIES REGULAR

A glamorous and highly unconventional French businesswoman, the Marquise D’Étagnac is introduced to Belgravia by the Duke and Duchess of Rochester. Offering a wealth of business opportunities, Frederick sees a chance to expand into new areas of industry.

Bio: Claude Perron is a French actress whose career spans across theatre and film. She first studied drama at Conservatoire d’Art Dramatique de Nantes and then moved up to the prestigious Conservatoire de la Rue Blanche in Paris. After graduation, she spent a decade acting in multiple successful plays on stage. She worked with the best directors of her generation to and played classic as well as contemporary plays such as Molière, Pinter, Melquiaux, Siméon, Py, with great theatre directors as Michel Fau, Olivier Py, Paul Desveaux, and others. Her career as a film actress began in 1996 when she landed her first lead role in Albert Dupontel’s Bernie. This feature film, which marked the debut of the filmmaker, was a success and her performance was highly saluted. Her collaboration with Dupontel continued with Le Créateur and Enfermés dehors. Then, Claude continued working with the biggest names of the French industry in both dramas and comedies such as Jean Pierre Jeunet’s renowned Amélie and his latest Netflix movie, Big Bug. She also acted in TV series, where she led the Canal+ hit WorkinGirls, which was nominated at the international Emmy Awards (in 2013). Most recently, Claude took part in international projects, amongst which the play Tartuffe at the Royal Haymarket of London as well as the highly anticipated Spanish Balenciaga’s series biopic produced by Disney+. She will be seen on screen in a big French comedy that will be released in Christmas 2023.

Perron is represented by AS Talents.

 

Sophie Winkleman – “Duchess of Rochester”

RECURRING

Character Bio: The queen of Belgravia, the Duchess and her husband stand at the top of Belgravia’s social hierarchy – but privately, she struggles to reconcile the Duke’s feelings towards their unwell, eldest son Peter with her own wishes for his care.

Bio: Sophie Winkleman began acting as a teen with the National Youth Theatre, continuing at Cambridge University where she joined the award-winning Footlights. Sophie’s numerous stage credits include “Violet” in Sir Peter Hall’s production of Man and Superman, “Archangela” in Peter Hall’s Galileo’s Daughter, “Charlotte” in Thea Sharrock’s Don Juan at the Theatre Royal Bath, “Helena” in Eric Idle’s What About Dick and “Veronique” in Laurence Boswell’s Beauty and the Beast for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Sophie’s TV credits include regular roles in Peep Show and Two and a Half Men; her most recent work includes leading roles in ITV’s Sanditon and Strike for the BBC. For film, Sophie’s credits include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Suzie Gold and the leading role in Mike Figgis’s Love Live Long. Sophie will next be seen on the big screen in Wonka, directed by Paul King.

Winkleman is represented by Hamilton Hodell.

 

Elaine Cassidy – “Davison”

SERIES REGULAR

Character Bio: Clara’s newly appointed lady’s maid, Davison grows to protect her mistress with a fierce devotion, recognizing Clara’s youth and need for love.  Davison has experienced hard times in her own past and is intent on supporting Clara through her struggles.

Bio: Elaine Cassidy is an award-winning Irish actress. She first came to prominence in her leading role in Disco Pigs (2001), for which she won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress. This was shortly after playing the titular role of “Felicia” in Felicia’s Journey (1999). Elaine stars in the new Sebastián Lelio film The Wonder, which premiered at Telluride Film Festival in September. Elaine’s played “Abby Mills” in CBS’s Harper’s Island, her first leading role on a US network television show, which won her a second Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress. Her other television work includes the BBC mini-series Fingersmith, the BAFTA nominated police procedural No Offence, where she was the lead, BBC’s Emmy nominated The Paradise and A Room with A View, adapted by Andrew Davies. Elaine has also appeared on the stage, with roles in Donmar Warehouse Productions Aristocrats and the critically praised revival Les Liaisons Dangereuses, directed by Josie Rourke. Other prominent stage credits include There Came a Gypsy Riding, Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore and The Crucible.

Cassidy is represented by ARG Talent.

 

About Carnival Films

Carnival Films is a London-based television and feature film production company, part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. Led by executive chairman and producer Gareth Neame, the company is one of the UK’s leading drama producers, having produced hundreds of hours of compelling content viewed around the world.

Carnival Films produced all six seasons of the award-winning and beloved TV phenomenon Downton Abbey, which aired in over 250 territories worldwide and set a Guinness World Record for being the most critically well-received show in the world. The company produced the hit feature film of the same name, which earned more than $193 million at the worldwide box office in 2019, making it the highest grossing film of all time for distributor Focus Features. The movie sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era was released in 2022. Other Carnival Films productions include hit series The Last Kingdom for Netflix, which is also being produced as a movie, plus Belgravia for ITV and EPIX, and Jamestown for Sky One.

Having received more than 200 international awards and honours including Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, Carnival has also produced landmark series such as Poirot, Hotel Babylon, and Dracula, as well as award-winning mini-series Traffik, Any Human Heart, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and The Hollow Crown anthology.

For more information, please visit www.carnivalfilms.co.uk

About MGM+ 

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror. Premium movies are also available, including Top Gun: Maverick, No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Cyrano, and Licorice Pizza.

MGM+ will continue to be available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, and emerging digital distribution channels, as well as through its MGM+ app, providing more movies than any other network with thousands of titles available for streaming. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to [www.mgmplus.com ] or follow on [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube].

 

Contact:

MGM+

Eileen Quast

equast@mgm.com

 

Liz Isenberg

Lisenberg@mgm.com

 

MGM+ Announces Season Two Pick-Up for Explosive War Drama ‘Rogue Heroes’

Series from Peaky Blinders Creator Steven Knight

To Return to MGM+ For a Second Season 

Download Season One Photos Here

New York, NY – January 10, 2023 – Following the UK renewal, MGM+ has announced that hit war drama Rogue Heroes will also return to the premium linear channel and streaming service for a second season. Produced by Kudos (a Banijay UK company) and Nebulastar and based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name, Rogue Heroes is a dramatized account of how the world’s greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two. Filming will begin on the second season later this year.

“The first season of Rogue Heroes captivated stateside audiences with its gripping and spirited storytelling about the formation of the SAS,” said Michael Wright, Head of MGM+. “It was immediately clear that there’s so much story to tell about this band of rag-tag soldiers and we couldn’t be more excited to see what Stephen Knight and Kudos have in store for the second season.”

“Having introduced the remarkable truth about how the SAS were formed, I can’t wait to reveal how this small band of young warriors went on to help win the defining war of the twentieth century,” said Steven Knight, creator, writer and executive producer.

Rogue Heroes season one was developed for television and written by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo, A Christmas Carol) and directed by Tom Shankland (The Serpent, The Missing), with Stephen Smallwood (The Serpent, Patrick Melrose) as producer. The series was executive produced by Karen Wilson, Martin Haines and Emma Kingsman-Lloyd for Kudos, and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. The series is internationally distributed by Banijay Rights.

The first season starred Connor Swindells (Sex Education, Vigil), Jack O’Connell (Skins, The North Water), Alfie Allen (Jojo Rabbit, Game of Thrones), Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk, The King), Sofia Boutella (Modern Love, Atomic Blonde), and Dominic West (The Wire, Appropriate Adult).

About MGM+ 

MGM+ is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with Original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror. Premium movies are also available, including No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Cyrano, and Licorice Pizza.

MGM+ will continue to be available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, and emerging digital distribution channels, as well as through its MGM+ app, providing more movies than any other network with thousands of titles available for streaming. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to [www.mgmplus.com ] or follow on [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube].

 

Contact:

Eileen Quast:

equast@mgm.com

 

Liz Isenberg:

lisenberg@mgm.com

 

MGM+ Announces Second Season for Western Adventure Drama Series ‘Billy the Kid’ Starring Tom Blyth (‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’) as the Titular Character

Second season will premiere on MGM+ in 2024

NEW YORK—January 10, 2023—Today, MGM+ announced the renewal of Billy the Kid, starring Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) for an eight-episode second season. The epic romantic adventure inspired by the life of America’s most infamous outlaw continues in Season Two, as Billy and his allies square off against his oldest friend Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber) and the corrupt powers of the Santa Fe Ring. When shots are fired, the conflict erupts into the bloody Lincoln County War. Amidst the fighting, Billy will struggle to hang onto his soul—and to the love of his life. Production will begin in Canada later this year.

Creator, writer and executive producer Michael Hirst (Vikings, The Tudors, Elizabeth) will return for the second season alongside executive producers Donald De Line (De Line Pictures), Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (Amblin Television). The series is produced by MGM+ Studios and Amazon Studios: Pan-English Scripted TV, in association with Amblin Television and De Line Pictures. Billy the Kid is internationally distributed by MGM.

“I’m thrilled to be taking the legendary outlaw, Billy the Kid, into a second season with MGM+,” said Michael Hirst. “I’m particularly excited because the new season is built around the infamous and bloody events of the Lincoln County War. Billy’s exploits and extraordinary daring during the war made him famous, first across America and then the whole of the western world. It’s a story worth telling – dramatic, unforgettable, poignant, and iconic. And it will certainly be worth watching.”

“I’m honored to continue working on the incredible story of Billy the Kid with the brilliant Michael Hirst, the excellent team at MGM+, and my great partners at Amblin Television,” said Donald De Line. “Tom Blyth will continue to redefine this legendary character who’s synonymous with one of the most fascinating periods in the history of the American West.”

“In Season One, Michael Hirst, Donald De Line, and a stellar cast led by Tom Blyth brought Billy the Kid to life in a way that enthralled audiences,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “We’re excited to continue the story of this complex and misunderstood character during one of the most consequential chapters of his short life.”

Billy the Kid Season One was the platform’s second most viewed original series in the history of the premium network after the Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem starring Forest Whitaker.

About MGM 

Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms. The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content as well as the premium pay television network MGM+, which is available throughout the U.S. via cable, satellite, telco and digital distributors.  In addition, MGM has investments in numerous other television channels, digital platforms and interactive ventures and is producing premium short-form content for distribution. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

About MGM+ 

MGM+ is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror. Premium movies are also available, including No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Cyrano, and Licorice Pizza.

MGM+ will continue to be available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, and emerging digital distribution channels, as well as through its MGM+ app, providing more movies than any other network with thousands of titles available for streaming. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to [www.mgmplus.com ] or follow on [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube].

Contact:

Eileen Quast:

equast@mgm.com

 

Liz Isenberg:

lisenberg@mgm.com

Launching on January 15, MGM+ Expands Premium Lineup and Unveils Development Slate

MGM+ announces premiere dates for A Spy Among Friends, FROM, and Murf the Surf 

Watch the MGM+ Sizzle HERE

PASADENA, California—January 10, 2023—Today, at the Television Critics Association’s 2023 Winter Press Tour, Michael Wright, head of MGM+ (formerly EPIX), unveiled a programming lineup and development slate that delivers premium cinematic television and a curated theatrical library, from one of the world’s most enduring entertainment brands.

The newly rebranded premium linear channel and streaming service will launch on January 15 in conjunction with the Season Three premiere of the critically acclaimed drama series Godfather of Harlem, starring and executive produced by Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker and created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein (Narcos).

“It’s a new beginning for our service, as we introduce MGM+ and its distinctive brand promise to viewers on January 15. MGM+ will deliver on its iconic and beloved studio legacy, with cinematic, sophisticated, and transportive storytelling that audiences love,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “We are growing our rich library of content, comprised of original television series and blockbuster films that celebrate the MGM brand.”

Wright also announced premiere dates for the six-episode limited series A Spy Among Friends (March 12), the contemporary sci-fi horror series FROM Season Two (April 23) and the true-crime docuseries Murf the Surf (February 5). A Spy Among Friends, based on the New York Times best-selling book written by Ben Macintyre, stars Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actor Damian Lewis (Homeland, Billions), Emmy winner Guy Pearce (Jack Irish, Mare of Easttown), and Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Line of Duty). FROM features a stellar ensemble cast led by Harold Perrineau (Lost), and is created and executive produced by John Griffin (Crater), directed and executive produced by Jack Bender (Lost, Game of Thrones, Mr. Mercedes), and executive produced by showrunner Jeff Pinkner (Fringe, Alias, Lost). Murf the Surf, based on the life of infamous jewel thief Jack Roland Murphy, is written and directed by Emmy winner R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, Belushi) and executive produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.

These series will join previously greenlit series Hotel Cocaine and San Francisco Sounds (working title) in MGM+’s new lineup. Hotel Cocaine, a crime thriller executive produced by Chris Brancato, will enter production in May in the Dominican Republic, and is scheduled to premiere next winter. San Francisco Sounds, a two-part documentary series that tracks the history of the San Francisco music scene from 1965 to 1975, comes from the team behind the Emmy-nominated documentary Laurel Canyon and is scheduled to premiere in the fall.

Godfather of Harlem photos HERE 

Watch Murf the Surf Trailer HERE

A Spy Among Friends Photos HERE

FROM Photos HERE

 

New MGM+ originals, renewals, and acquired series announced today:

Rogue Heroes Season Two – This critically acclaimed hit drama series from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will return for a second season in 2024. Season One followed David Stirling (Connor Swindells), Jock Lewes (Alfie Allen), and Paddy Mayne (Jack O’Connell) in a dramatized account of how the British Army’s Special Air Service (SAS) unit was formed in the darkest days of World War II, with fellow cast members including Dominic West, Sofia Boutella, Tom Glynn-Carney, and Theo Barklem-Biggs. The second season will show viewers what comes next for the SAS, following the dramatic turn of events in Season One’s finale episode. Production on this six-part series with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score will begin in 2023. The press release can be found here.

Billy the Kid Season Two – Featuring an ensemble cast led by Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), the epic romantic adventure inspired by the life of America’s most infamous outlaw continues in Season Two, as Billy and his allies square off against his oldest friend Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber) and the corrupt powers of the Santa Fe Ring. When shots are fired, the conflict erupts into the bloody Lincoln County War. Amidst the fighting, Billy will struggle to hang onto his soul—and to the love of his life. Creator, writer, and executive producer Michael Hirst (Elizabeth, The Tudors, Vikings) will return for the second season alongside executive producers Donald De Line (De Line Pictures), Darryl Frank, and Justin Falvey (Amblin Television). The series is produced by MGM+ Studios and Amazon Studios: Pan-English Scripted TV, in association with Amblin Television and De Line Pictures. Billy the Kid is internationally distributed by MGM. The press release can be found here.

 

The development slate released today:

The Emperor of Ocean Park (scripted) – From John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television, The Emperor of Ocean Park is a thrilling, suspenseful take on Stephen L. Carter’s best-selling novel. Set in the worlds of D.C. politics, Ivy League academia, and the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, the series centers on Talcott Garland’s quiet life as an Ivy League law professor whose world is shattered when his father, Judge Oliver Garland, dies of an apparent heart attack. The nature of the judge’s death is questioned by Tal’s sister, Mariah, a former journalist and constant conspiracy theorist, who believes that the judge, a former failed Black nominee to the Supreme Court, met with foul play. Sherman Payne is the writer, with Damian Marcano attached to direct.

Hoodlum (scripted) – Based on the 1997 MGM film written by Chris Brancato, this drama series set in the 1930s follows the true story of Harlem numbers queen Stephanie St. Clair’s rise to prominence and mentorship of Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson. MGM+ Studios is developing, and Brancato and Monica Macer are co-creating and executive producing.

Earth Abides (scripted) – When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into barbarism … or extinction. Based on the novel by George R. Stewart, which is published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, MGM+ Studios is developing with Michael Phillips, Juliana Maio, and Kearie Peak attached as executive producers.

American Classic (scripted) – American Classic is a half-hour comedy about a man desperately trying to save himself, his family, and his hometown in the only way he knows how—by putting on a show. Broadway star and notorious narcissist Richard Bean (Kevin Kline) suffers a spectacular public meltdown, and decides to return home to the family-run theater where he first became aware of his own brilliance. When he arrives, he’s shocked to find that his brother (Jon Tenney), and his brother’s wife (who also happens to be his former lover), have turned his temple of art into a dinner theater—with the emphasis on dinner. To make matters worse, his hometown of Millersberg is teetering on the edge of economic disaster. Inspired, Richard vows to put on a show so great that it will save the theatre, the town, and, most importantly, his career. But with the family and town in chaos, the constant threat of financial ruin, and Richard’s enormous ego, will they even make it to opening night? Michael Hoffman, Bob Martin, Leslie Urdang, Kline, Anthony Bregman, and Miriam Mintz are attached as executive producers. American Classic is being developed as a co-production between MGM+ Studios and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios.

Ark (scripted) – It’s 2030, the oceans have risen rapidly, and soon, the entire planet will be submerged. But the discovery of another life-sustaining planet light-years away gives hope to those who remain alive. Only a few will be able to make the generations-long journey, and those who don’t make the cut face a watery death. Based on the books by Stephen Baxter, the series is in development as a co-production between MGM+ Studios and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios.

Hollywood Black — Based on the book by historian Donald Bogle, this four-part docuseries tells the epic story of the actors, writers, directors, and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera, on the screen, and in the credits. It is a definitive chronicle of a century of the Black experience in Hollywood and a powerful reexamination of a quintessentially American story—in brilliant color. Culture Machine’s Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) and Kyle Laursen, Significant Productions’ Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi (Godfather of Harlem), and RadicalMedia’s Dave Sirulnick, Stacey Reiss, and Jon Kamen (Summer of Soul) will all serve as executive producers. Simien and Jeffrey Schwartz (Tab Hunter Confidential, I Am Divine) are set to direct.

Hot Stuff (docuseries) – Mention the word “disco” to most people and it brings back memories of a plastic music fad, the movie Saturday Night Fever, and the infamous NYC club Studio 54. Yet there is so much more to the story. Hot Stuff is a four-part docuseries that dives into what was nothing less than a liberation movement. From its birth in underground gay clubs, where DJs broke new music on their twin turntables, disco, with its infectious 4/4 beat and powerful basslines, exploded on the scene. From rampant hedonism to rule-breaking fashion, to a bevy of divas with luscious vocals, disco marked a transformation in the look and sound of a society ready for change. Was disco the forgettable fast-food of pop music, or was it a cultural revolution that still resonates today? Oscar-nominated documentary studio XTR (They Call Me Magic) will be producing the series, while David Friendly and Lesley Chilcott are attached as executive producers.

The Devil Within (docuseries) – This four-part, true-crime docuseries is based on the hit Cavalry Audio podcast The Devil Within, which follows the mysterious murder of Betty Ann Sullivan during the height of the Satanic Panic. Filled with twists, turns, and iconic legends, the series fuses true crime with horror. Simply put, what started as a dark, small-town murder investigation quickly spiraled into a paranormal mystery. Executive produced by Eli Roth with executive producers Dirk Hoogstra and Nicole Sorrenti for Half Yard Productions, a North Road Company.

Wonderland Murders & the Secret History of Hollywood (docuseries) – When best-selling crime novelist Michael Connelly discovered that Scott Thorson, best known as Liberace’s lover and author of the tell-all Behind the Candelabra, held the keys to the infamous Wonderland Murders, he only had one problem: Thorson’s stories sounded too unbelievable to be true. As the stories got weirder and wilder, and Thorson’s own “nine lives” stretched beyond the Wonderland Murders themselves, Connelly struggled with how far to follow this unreliable narrator. Connelly (Lincoln Lawyer, Bosch, Bosch: Legacy) executive produces the four-episode documentary series alongside Jen Casey and Nick Gilhool for Miziker Content; Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), a part of Sony Pictures Television; and Rick Jackson. Alison Ellwood (The Go-Go’s, How to Change Your Mind, Laurel Canyon) will direct as well as executive produce.

The MGM+ service will also provide an expansive library of film titles from MGM and other major Hollywood Studios. The library of titles includes blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick; MGM hits No Time to Die and House of Gucci; and beloved franchises like James Bond and Rocky. The service also offers fan favorites like The Silence of the Lambs, Platoon, Robocop, The Magnificent Seven, The Wolf of Wall Street, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Lost City, Barbershop, The Pink Panther, In the Heat of the Night, The Thomas Crown Affair, A Quiet Place, and Father of the Bride.

 

About MGM+

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror. Premium movies are also available, including No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Cyrano, and Licorice Pizza.

MGM+ will continue to be available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, and emerging digital distribution channels, as well as through its MGM+ app, providing more movies than any other network with thousands of titles available for streaming. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to [www.mgmplus.com ] or follow on [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube].

 

Contacts:

Eileen Quast, MGM+ PR

equast@epix.com

 

ID Public Relations

MGM+@id-pr.com

MGM+ Announces NEW Premiere Date for ‘Murf the Surf’, the True-Crime Docuseries From Imagine Documentaries and R.J. Cutler’s This Machine

Four-part docuseries, based on the infamous jewel thief Jack Roland Murphy, is written and directed by two-time Emmy winner R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, BELUSHI, The War Room) and executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard and will premiere on February 5th, 2023

Download Photos HERE

Photo Credit: MGM+

Download Key Art HERE

Screeners for all episodes are available upon request.

NEW YORK, NY – Wednesday, January 5th, 2023 – Premium linear channel and streaming service MGM+ today announced that Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus, and Mayhem in the USA will premiere on February 5th, 2023. A new true-crime four-part docuseries from Imagine Documentaries and R.J. Cutler’s This Machine (a part of Sony Pictures Television), the series pulls back the curtain on America’s most infamous jewel thief, Jack Roland Murphy.

The docuseries is directed by Emmy winner R.J. Cutler and executive produced by Cutler and his long time producing partner Trevor Smith (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, BELUSHI) along with Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, American Gangster), Ron Howard (Thirteen Lives, Apollo 13), Justin Wilkes (Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues, Light & Magic, MARS), and Sara Bernstein (We Feed People, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel) for Imagine and Elise Pearlstein (American Factory, Food, Inc.) for This Machine.

In October 2019, the New York Times published an article celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Museum of Natural History. One of the most momentous events to take place on site was an epic jewel heist, the biggest in American history, mastered by a band of suave “surfer dudes” from Miami in 1964. The key to the operation was Jack Roland Murphy, otherwise known as Murf the Surf, whose name was propelled into pop culture after the heist—creating a notoriety that would stretch far beyond the caper. What followed Murf’s meteoric rise is a spiraling tale of unspeakable crime, murder, deception, and mayhem which, to this day, remains shrouded in mystery.

This four-part documentary series will explore the tumultuous life of the man behind the legendary nickname. Featuring exclusive access to Jack Roland Murphy himself prior to his death in 2020, the series will address the blurred line between fact and fiction, faith and delusion, sanity and madness—raising the timely question of who and how we believe. Murf the Surf will be internationally distributed by MGM.

About R.J. Cutler

R.J. Cutler is an award-winning director and producer who has made some of the most significant documentary films and television series of the past quarter century including the Oscar-nominated The War Room, Emmy- nominated A Perfect Candidate, Sundance Award-winning The September Issue, Peabody Award-winning Listen to Me Marlon, and The World According to Dick Cheney. His most recent work includes the critically acclaimed projects Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, a cinema verité coming of age story of the singer-songwriter; BELUSHI, about the too-short life of once in a generation talent John Belushi told through previously unheard audiotapes; and the docuseries “Dear…” which profiled icons such as Spike Lee, Gloria Steinem, and Misty Copeland, telling their stories through the eyes of those who have been most affected by their work.

Cutler is also the founder of This Machine, a production company focused on developing non-scripted projects for film and television. Upcoming feature projects for Cutler include documentaries Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years That Made His Legend (Disney+) and an Untitled Martha Stewart Documentary (Netflix), both of which Cutler is directing and producing. He is also producing The Devil You Know (HBO) inspired by New York Times columnist Charles Blow’s book.

On the television side, Cutler is directing and producing “Big Vape” (Netflix), a series that will chronicle the rise of E-cigarette company Juul, that This Machine is partnering with Amblin to produce. In addition, the company has other yet to be announced projects for Amazon, Showtime, and CNN.

About Imagine Documentaries

Imagine Documentaries was formed in 2018 by Imagine Entertainment Chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard with a focus on developing and producing premium feature documentaries and non-scripted television. Based out of New York, Imagine Docs is run by Academy Award-nominated and Emmy, Peabody and Producer’s Guild Award-winning producers Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein. Imagine Documentaries has been recognized as a prolific and premiere documentary storyteller, working with the most visionary filmmakers in the industry and garnering multiple Emmy award nominations and wins for its’ vast production slate. Recent releases include Sacha Jenkin’s Louis “Armstrong’s Black & Blues” (AppleTV+); Amy Poehler’s documentary feature directing debut and Emmy-winning “Lucy and Desi”; Ron Howard’s Emmy-nominated documentary feature film “We Feed People” (National Geographic Films); “Light & Magic” from Lawrence Kasdan (Disney+); the Rory Kennedy’s “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing”, (Netflix); “Julia”, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West (Sony Pictures Classic); and Joe Berlinger’s “Crime Scene” anthology series – The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, The Times Square Killer, and The Texas Killing Fields, all of which reached the top #5 globally on Netflix.

Upcoming productions include the Martin Scorsese directed feature “Personality Crisis: One Night Only” (Showtime); “The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari” (Netflix) from Rory Kennedy; “The Supermodels”, a docuseries featuring the iconic careers of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington (AppleTV+); “The Dynasty”, a new documentary event series about the New England Patriots;  a Ron Howard directed feature about Jim Henson (Disney+);  a documentary feature about pioneering author Judy Blume from Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchock (Amazon); and “David Blaine’s Beyond Belief” (NatGeo/Disney+).

About This Machine

This Machine was founded in Los Angeles and New York City in 2020. Headed by Award-winning filmmaker and non-fiction pioneer R.J. Cutler, This Machine explores the times in which we live through non-fiction storytelling in all media. This Machine’s team includes Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning producer and executive Elise Pearlstein, Cutler’s long-time producing partner Trevor Smith and our development team of Margaret Yen and Sally Rosen Phillips.

The company is behind the Academy Award shortlisted Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, the multi-award winning BELUSHI, and the critically acclaimed docuseries “Dear…”  which recently aired its second season on Apple TV+.  They are also behind the recently released “Supreme Models” (Black Voices Fund/Youtube Originals) a series that pays tribute to the Black women who broke down barriers and transformed the fashion and beauty industries.  Upcoming projects for This Machine include feature documentaries Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances And the Years That Made His Legend (Disney+), the Untitled Martha Stewart Documentary (Netflix), The Devil You Know (HBO), which is inspired by New York Times columnist Charles Blow’s bestselling book and upcoming multi-part documentary series include “Big Vape” (Netflix), which chronicles the rise and fall the of E-cigarette company Juul.  In addition, the company has other yet to be announced projects for Amazon, Showtime, and CNN.  This Machine’s team has decades of experience creating the highest quality and most popular non-fiction films and series as well as scripted series, feature films, and podcasts.

About MGM+ 

MGM+ is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with Original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror. Premium movies are also available, including No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Cyrano, and Licorice Pizza.

MGM+ will continue to be available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, and emerging digital distribution channels, as well as through its MGM+ app, providing more movies than any other network with thousands of titles available for streaming. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to [www.mgmplus.com ] or follow on [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube].

Press Contacts:

For EPIX

Eileen Quast

EQuast@epix.com

Liz Isenberg

Lisenberg@epix.com

For Imagine Entertainment

Sage Shah

sshah@imagine-entertainment.com

310-858-2135

For This Machine/R.J. Cutler:

Jodie Oriol

Jodie.oriol@42west.net

MGM+ Announces Premiere Date for ‘Murf the Surf’, the True-Crime Docuseries From Imagine Documentaries and R.J. Cutler’s This Machine

MGM+ Announces Premiere Date for Murf the Surf, the True-Crime Docuseries From Imagine Documentaries and R.J. Cutler’s This Machine

 Four-part docuseries, based on the infamous jewel thief Jack Roland Murphy, is written and directed by two-time Emmy winner R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, BELUSHI, The War Room) and executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard and will premiere on January 15, 2023

Download Photos HERE

Photo Credit: MGM+ 

Download Key Art HERE 

Screeners for all episodes are available upon request.

NEW YORK, NY–Wednesday, December 7–Premium linear channel and streaming service MGM+ today announced that Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus, and Mayhem in the USA will premiere on January 15, 2023, to coincide with the official launch of MGM+. A new true-crime four-part docuseries from Imagine Documentaries and R.J. Cutler’s This Machine (a part of Sony Pictures Television), the series pulls back the curtain on America’s most infamous jewel thief, Jack Roland Murphy.

The docuseries is directed by Emmy winner R.J. Cutler and executive produced by Cutler and his long time producing partner Trevor Smith (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, BELUSHI) along with Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, American Gangster), Ron Howard (Thirteen Lives, Apollo 13), Justin Wilkes (Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues, Light & Magic, MARS), and Sara Bernstein (We Feed People, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel) for Imagine and Elise Pearlstein (American Factory, Food, Inc.) for This Machine.

In October 2019, the New York Times published an article celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Museum of Natural History. One of the most momentous events to take place on site was an epic jewel heist, the biggest in American history, mastered by a band of suave “surfer dudes” from Miami in 1964. The key to the operation was Jack Roland Murphy, otherwise known as Murf the Surf, whose name was propelled into pop culture after the heist—creating a notoriety that would stretch far beyond the caper. What followed Murf’s meteoric rise is a spiraling tale of unspeakable crime, murder, deception, and mayhem which, to this day, remains shrouded in mystery.

This four-part documentary series will explore the tumultuous life of the man behind the legendary nickname. Featuring exclusive access to Jack Roland Murphy himself prior to his death in 2020, the series will address the blurred line between fact and fiction, faith and delusion, sanity and madness—raising the timely question of who and how we believe. Murf the Surf will be internationally distributed by MGM.

 

About R.J. Cutler

R.J. Cutler is an award-winning director and producer who has made some of the most significant documentary films and television series of the past quarter century including the Oscar-nominated The War Room, Emmy- nominated A Perfect Candidate, Sundance Award-winning The September Issue, Peabody Award-winning Listen to Me Marlon, and The World According to Dick Cheney. His most recent work includes the critically acclaimed projects Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, a cinema verité coming of age story of the singer-songwriter; BELUSHI, about the too-short life of once in a generation talent John Belushi told through previously unheard audiotapes; and the docuseries “Dear…” which profiled icons such as Spike Lee, Gloria Steinem, and Misty Copeland, telling their stories through the eyes of those who have been most affected by their work.

Cutler is also the founder of This Machine, a production company focused on developing non-scripted projects for film and television.

Upcoming feature projects for Cutler include documentaries Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years That Made His Legend (Disney+) and an Untitled Martha Stewart Documentary (Netflix), both of which Cutler is directing and producing. He is also producing The Devil You Know (HBO) inspired by New York Times columnist Charles Blow’s book.

On the television side, Cutler is directing and producing “Big Vape” (Netflix), a series that will chronicle the rise of E-cigarette company Juul, that This Machine is partnering with Amblin to produce. In addition, the company has other yet to be announced projects for Amazon, Showtime, and CNN.

 

About Imagine Documentaries

Imagine Documentaries was formed in 2018 by Imagine Entertainment Chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron

Howard with a focus on developing and producing premium feature documentaries and non-scripted

television. Based out of New York, Imagine Docs is run by Academy Award-nominated and Emmy,

Peabody and Producer’s Guild Award-winning producers Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein. Imagine Documentaries has been recognized as a prolific and premiere documentary storyteller, working with the most visionary filmmakers in the industry and garnering multiple Emmy award nominations and wins for its’ vast production slate. Recent releases include Sacha Jenkin’s Louis “Armstrong’s Black & Blues” (AppleTV+); Amy Poehler’s documentary feature directing debut and Emmy-winning “Lucy and Desi”; Ron Howard’s Emmy-nominated documentary feature film “We Feed People” (National Geographic Films); “Light & Magic” from Lawrence Kasdan (Disney+); the Rory Kennedy’s “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing”, (Netflix); “Julia”, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West (Sony Pictures Classic); and Joe Berlinger’s “Crime Scene” anthology series – The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, The Times Square Killer, and The Texas Killing Fields, all of which reached the top #5 globally on Netflix.

Upcoming productions include the Martin Scorsese directed feature “Personality Crisis: One Night Only” (Showtime); “The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari” (Netflix) from Rory Kennedy; “The Supermodels”, a docuseries featuring the iconic careers of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington (AppleTV+); “The Dynasty”, a new documentary event series about the New England Patriots;  a Ron Howard directed feature about Jim Henson (Disney+);  a documentary feature about pioneering author Judy Blume from Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchock (Amazon); and “David Blaine’s Beyond Belief” (NatGeo/Disney+).

 

About This Machine

This Machine was founded in Los Angeles and New York City in 2020. Headed by Award-winning filmmaker and non-fiction pioneer R.J. Cutler, This Machine explores the times in which we live through non-fiction storytelling in all media. This Machine’s team includes Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning producer and executive Elise Pearlstein, Cutler’s long-time producing partner Trevor Smith and our development team of Margaret Yen and Sally Rosen Phillips.

The company is behind the Academy Award shortlisted Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, the multi-award winning BELUSHI, and the critically acclaimed docuseries “Dear…”  which recently aired its second season on Apple TV+.  They are also behind the recently released “Supreme Models” (Black Voices Fund/Youtube Originals) a series that pays tribute to the Black women who broke down barriers and transformed the fashion and beauty industries.  Upcoming projects for This Machine include feature documentaries Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances And the Years That Made His Legend (Disney+), the Untitled Martha Stewart Documentary (Netflix), The Devil You Know (HBO), which is inspired by New York Times columnist Charles Blow’s bestselling book and upcoming multi-part documentary series include “Big Vape” (Netflix), which chronicles the rise and fall the of E-cigarette company Juul.  In addition, the company has other yet to be announced projects for Amazon, Showtime, and CNN.  This Machine’s team has decades of experience creating the highest quality and most popular non-fiction films and series as well as scripted series, feature films, and podcasts.

 

About MGM+ 

MGM+ is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with Original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror. Premium movies are also available, including No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Cyrano, and Licorice Pizza.

MGM+ will continue to be available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, and emerging digital distribution channels, as well as through its MGM+ app, providing more movies than any other network with thousands of titles available for streaming. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to [www.mgmplus.com ] or follow on [Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube].

 

Press Contacts:

For EPIX

Eileen Quast

EQuast@epix.com

Liz Isenberg

Lisenberg@epix.com

 

For Imagine Entertainment

Sage Shah

sshah@imagine-entertainment.com

310-858-2135

 

For This Machine/R.J. Cutler:

Jodie Oriol

Jodie.oriol@42west.net