Beverly Hills, Calif. – July 31, 2015 – Starz announced today that its Emmy®-winning Original series “Black Sails” has been greenlit for a fourth season. The series is created by Jonathan E. Steinberg (“Jericho,” “Human Target”) and Robert Levine (“Touch”) and executive produced by Michael Bay (the Transformers franchise, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor), and his Platinum Dunes partners Brad Fuller and Andrew Form (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Purge), as well as Chris Symes (Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Eragon) and Dan Shotz (“Jericho,” “Harper’s Island”).
The ten-episode third season of the authentic high seas drama series, returning in 2016, follows the most feared pirate of the day, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis
Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” Season three has seen the addition of Ray Stevenson (‘Rome,” Insurgent, Divergent) as the iconic pirate ‘Blackbeard.’
The first two seasons of “Black Sails” averaged 4.5 million multi-platform viewers per episode* and the series is distributed in over 175 countries and territories worldwide. “Black Sails” won two Emmy® Awards in 2014, for Outstanding Special and Visual Effects in a Supporting Role, and Outstanding Sound Editing.
“Black Sails” stars Toby Stephens as the brilliant and unstoppable ‘Captain Flint.’ Stephens is an accomplished film, television and stage actor, who will appear in the 2016 feature film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi directed by Michael Bay, and is well-known for his role in Die Another Day. He starred in BBC’s “Vexed” and on stage in “Noel Coward’s Private Lives.” His many film credits include Believe and Twelfth Night. London-born Hannah New portrays ‘Eleanor Guthrie,’ a beautiful and determined young woman who runs the smuggling operation on New Providence. New starred in the miniseries, "El Tiempo Entre Costuras (The Time Between Seams)," the feature Fuga De Cerebros 2, and most recently in Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning. Luke Arnold portrays the classic character, ‘John Silver,’ in the years before his well-known feats. Arnold is a native of Australia, where he began working in television on series including “McLeod's Daughters,” “Rush” and “Rescue: Special Ops.” He also went on to appear in the feature film, Broken Hill and most recently starred in the miniseries “INXS: The Michael Hutchence Story.” Jessica Parker Kennedy is in the role of ‘Max,’ a young prostitute with an eye towards advancement. Parker Kennedy is known for her work in the television series, “The Secret Circle,” and has appeared in the films 50/50 and In Time. British actor Tom Hopper stars as ‘Billy Bones’ of “Treasure Island” fame. Hopper is most well-known for his role as ‘Sir Percival’ in “Merlin” and has recently appeared in Northmen – A Viking Saga. Zach McGowan is featured as ‘Captain Charles Vane,’ a rival pirate to Captain Flint. McGowan is most well-known for his role in the series “Shameless” and appeared last year in the feature film Dracula Untold.
For more information, go to the official “Black Sails” Facebook Page and follow @BlkSails_Starz on Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation with #BlackSails and #STARZ.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.
Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of June 30, 2015, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 56.8 million subscribers, including 23.5 million at STARZ, and 33.3 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ® and ENCORE®, along with Starz Networks’ third network MOVIEPLEX®, air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution’s home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.
The ten-episode third season of the authentic high seas drama series, returning in 2016, follows the most feared pirate of the day, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis
Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” Season three has seen the addition of Ray Stevenson (‘Rome,” Insurgent, Divergent) as the iconic pirate ‘Blackbeard.’
The first two seasons of “Black Sails” averaged 4.5 million multi-platform viewers per episode* and the series is distributed in over 175 countries and territories worldwide. “Black Sails” won two Emmy® Awards in 2014, for Outstanding Special and Visual Effects in a Supporting Role, and Outstanding Sound Editing.
“Black Sails” stars Toby Stephens as the brilliant and unstoppable ‘Captain Flint.’ Stephens is an accomplished film, television and stage actor, who will appear in the 2016 feature film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi directed by Michael Bay, and is well-known for his role in Die Another Day. He starred in BBC’s “Vexed” and on stage in “Noel Coward’s Private Lives.” His many film credits include Believe and Twelfth Night. London-born Hannah New portrays ‘Eleanor Guthrie,’ a beautiful and determined young woman who runs the smuggling operation on New Providence. New starred in the miniseries, "El Tiempo Entre Costuras (The Time Between Seams)," the feature Fuga De Cerebros 2, and most recently in Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning. Luke Arnold portrays the classic character, ‘John Silver,’ in the years before his well-known feats. Arnold is a native of Australia, where he began working in television on series including “McLeod's Daughters,” “Rush” and “Rescue: Special Ops.” He also went on to appear in the feature film, Broken Hill and most recently starred in the miniseries “INXS: The Michael Hutchence Story.” Jessica Parker Kennedy is in the role of ‘Max,’ a young prostitute with an eye towards advancement. Parker Kennedy is known for her work in the television series, “The Secret Circle,” and has appeared in the films 50/50 and In Time. British actor Tom Hopper stars as ‘Billy Bones’ of “Treasure Island” fame. Hopper is most well-known for his role as ‘Sir Percival’ in “Merlin” and has recently appeared in Northmen – A Viking Saga. Zach McGowan is featured as ‘Captain Charles Vane,’ a rival pirate to Captain Flint. McGowan is most well-known for his role in the series “Shameless” and appeared last year in the feature film Dracula Untold.
For more information, go to the official “Black Sails” Facebook Page and follow @BlkSails_Starz on Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation with #BlackSails and #STARZ.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.
Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of June 30, 2015, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 56.8 million subscribers, including 23.5 million at STARZ, and 33.3 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ® and ENCORE®, along with Starz Networks’ third network MOVIEPLEX®, air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution’s home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.
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Entertainment One’s Series Based on Cuban Author Leonardo Padura’s Detective Novels
Eduardo Machado to Pen Pilot and Executive Produce Series with Antonio Banderas
Beverly Hills, Calif. – July 31, 2015 – Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht announced at today’s Starz Television Critics Association (TCA) presentation at the Beverly Hilton that Starz is developing Entertainment One Television’s (eOne) “Havana Quartet” starring international film star Antonio Banderas (Evita, The Mask of Zorro, The Expendables 3). Celebrated Cuban writer Eduardo Machado (STARZ Original series “Magic City,” “Hung”) will write the pilot and executive produce with Banderas alongside Peter Nadermann of Nadcon Film, as well as Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny of Sienna Films. eOne will serve as the studio and produce the hour-long drama series, as well as distribute the show worldwide.
Based on the popular four-book series of detective novels “Havana Blue,” “Havana Gold,” “Havana Red” and “Havana Black” written by acclaimed Cuban novelist Leonardo Padura, “Havana Quartet” follows hard-drinking, romantic Cuban Police Detective Mario Conde (Banderas) who longs to be a writer but settled for a job as a detective.
“Starz continues to see great opportunity in continued programming diversification with many communities and genres,” Albrecht said. “Partnering with eOne to develop the drama series ‘Havana Quartet’ with international star Antonio Banderas will allow us to give viewers a premium show that highlights the decaying beauty of Cuba during its ‘Special Period’ – a time and place which tourists rarely got to experience.”
“‘Havana Quartet’ is a series that captures both the romance and the underbelly of a country that has struck our collective curiosity and imagination for decades, and it was important for us to create a show that is authentic to Padura’s elegant, noir-tinged novels and to Cuba itself. We are delighted to partner with Starz and to have assembled such an exceptional team of talent to bring this special project to life,” said Pancho Mansfield, President of Global Scripted Programming, eOne Television.
Starz will retain all network pay TV and SVOD rights to the project. eOne’s Carrie Stein, EVP of Global Productions, will oversee the project for the studio along with Becca Tesarfreund, Director of Development.
Banderas, born in Málaga, Spain, made his film debut in 1982 in Laberinto de Pasione (Labyrinth of Passion) and his first American film, The Mambo Kings in 1992. Banderas went on to star in many hit films including Philadelphia, Interview with the Vampire, Desperado, Evita, The Mask of Zorro and most recently, The Expendables 3. In 2004 he joined the highly successful Shrek franchise voicing the adorable sword-fighting cat Puss In Boots, and appeared in each of the following sequels, as well as his own Puss in Boots feature in 2011. He has won numerous awards and nominations for his works in film, including three ALMA awards and three Golden Globe® nominations, among many others. He will next be seen starring in The 33 for Warner Bros, and Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups. Banderas is represented by Paradigm and Media Art Management.
Machado is the Head of Playwriting in the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at New York University’s Tisch School of Arts, and has worked as a writer and producer on both the STARZ Original series “Magic City” and HBO’s “Hung.” He is the author of more than 40 plays, including “The Floating Island Plays,” “Havana is Waiting and Other Plays,” and “Worship.” Machado also wrote and directed the film Exiles in New York, which screened at numerous film festivals, including the A.F.I. Film Festival and The Santa Barbara Film Festival. He is the recipient of the 2008 Raúl Juliá HOLA Founders Award and the Berrilla Kerr Grant 2001, among others. Machado is currently a member of the Actors Studio and The Ensemble Studio Theater. Machado is represented by CAA, Andrea Simon Entertainment and Morris Yorn.
Eduardo Machado to Pen Pilot and Executive Produce Series with Antonio Banderas
Beverly Hills, Calif. – July 31, 2015 – Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht announced at today’s Starz Television Critics Association (TCA) presentation at the Beverly Hilton that Starz is developing Entertainment One Television’s (eOne) “Havana Quartet” starring international film star Antonio Banderas (Evita, The Mask of Zorro, The Expendables 3). Celebrated Cuban writer Eduardo Machado (STARZ Original series “Magic City,” “Hung”) will write the pilot and executive produce with Banderas alongside Peter Nadermann of Nadcon Film, as well as Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny of Sienna Films. eOne will serve as the studio and produce the hour-long drama series, as well as distribute the show worldwide.
Based on the popular four-book series of detective novels “Havana Blue,” “Havana Gold,” “Havana Red” and “Havana Black” written by acclaimed Cuban novelist Leonardo Padura, “Havana Quartet” follows hard-drinking, romantic Cuban Police Detective Mario Conde (Banderas) who longs to be a writer but settled for a job as a detective.
“Starz continues to see great opportunity in continued programming diversification with many communities and genres,” Albrecht said. “Partnering with eOne to develop the drama series ‘Havana Quartet’ with international star Antonio Banderas will allow us to give viewers a premium show that highlights the decaying beauty of Cuba during its ‘Special Period’ – a time and place which tourists rarely got to experience.”
“‘Havana Quartet’ is a series that captures both the romance and the underbelly of a country that has struck our collective curiosity and imagination for decades, and it was important for us to create a show that is authentic to Padura’s elegant, noir-tinged novels and to Cuba itself. We are delighted to partner with Starz and to have assembled such an exceptional team of talent to bring this special project to life,” said Pancho Mansfield, President of Global Scripted Programming, eOne Television.
Starz will retain all network pay TV and SVOD rights to the project. eOne’s Carrie Stein, EVP of Global Productions, will oversee the project for the studio along with Becca Tesarfreund, Director of Development.
Banderas, born in Málaga, Spain, made his film debut in 1982 in Laberinto de Pasione (Labyrinth of Passion) and his first American film, The Mambo Kings in 1992. Banderas went on to star in many hit films including Philadelphia, Interview with the Vampire, Desperado, Evita, The Mask of Zorro and most recently, The Expendables 3. In 2004 he joined the highly successful Shrek franchise voicing the adorable sword-fighting cat Puss In Boots, and appeared in each of the following sequels, as well as his own Puss in Boots feature in 2011. He has won numerous awards and nominations for his works in film, including three ALMA awards and three Golden Globe® nominations, among many others. He will next be seen starring in The 33 for Warner Bros, and Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups. Banderas is represented by Paradigm and Media Art Management.
Machado is the Head of Playwriting in the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at New York University’s Tisch School of Arts, and has worked as a writer and producer on both the STARZ Original series “Magic City” and HBO’s “Hung.” He is the author of more than 40 plays, including “The Floating Island Plays,” “Havana is Waiting and Other Plays,” and “Worship.” Machado also wrote and directed the film Exiles in New York, which screened at numerous film festivals, including the A.F.I. Film Festival and The Santa Barbara Film Festival. He is the recipient of the 2008 Raúl Juliá HOLA Founders Award and the Berrilla Kerr Grant 2001, among others. Machado is currently a member of the Actors Studio and The Ensemble Studio Theater. Machado is represented by CAA, Andrea Simon Entertainment and Morris Yorn.
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