From a team including Alan Ball (HBO's True Blood, Six Feet Under) and Greg Yaitanes
(
December 21, 2012 - Toronto, Canada) -
HBO Canada, a multiplex channel of Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada) presents Banshee, the new action series from CINEMAX. Executive produced by Jonathan Tropper, David Schickler, Peter Macdissi, Alan Ball and Greg Yaitanes, the series kicks off its 10-episode season Friday, January 11 at 11 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada.
Banshee stars Antony Starr as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pennsylvania, where he continues his criminal activities, even as he's hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier. The series also stars: Ivana Milicevic as Carrie Hopewell, Hood's former partner in crime, who now lives in Banshee under an assumed identity with her new family, who know nothing of her past; Ulrich Thomsen as Kai Proctor, an intimidating, wealthy local businessman who believes he is above the law; Frankie Faison as Sugar Bates, a wise, powerful former boxer and ex-con who now owns the local watering hole; Hoon Lee as Job, a dangerous transvestite computer hacker who assists Lucas in his criminal enterprises; Rus Blackwell as Gulf War hero Gordon Hopewell, Banshee's district attorney, who is married to Carrie; and Matt Servitto as Brock Lotus, the longest-serving deputy in the Banshee sheriff department, who is threatened by Hood's new role as sheriff.
Other cast regulars include: Demetrius Grosse as Emmett Yawners, a deputy in the Banshee sheriff department; Trieste Kelly Dunn as Siobahn Kelly, a spitfire female deputy in the sheriff's department; Ryann Shane as Deva Hopewell, Carrie and Gordon's rebellious daughter; Daniel Ross Owens as Dan Kendall, Banshee's young, idealistic mayor; Lili Simmons as Rebecca Bowman, a local Amish girl in her early 20s who lives a devout life by day, but is a rebellious, sexually adventurous party girl by night; and Ben Cross as Rabbit, a ruthless Ukrainian gangster who has been hunting Lucas and Carrie, his former top thieves, for 15 years.
January's episodes:
Episode #1: “Pilot”
Premieres Friday, January 11 at 11 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada
In a bizarre twist of fate, a recently paroled master thief (Antony Starr) assumes the identity of Lucas Hood, sheriff-in-waiting of Banshee, Pa., the same town where his former partner and lover (Ivana Milicevic), who changed her name to Carrie, relocated and remarried years ago. Keeping his history a secret as he awaits forged papers from Job (Hoon Lee), an unlikely New York City ally, Lucas befriends boxer-turned-bartender Sugar Bates (Frankie Faison), and settles into his new life as Banshee's sheriff,overseeing deputies Emmett Yawners (Demetrius Grosse), Siobahn Kelly (Trieste Kelly Dunn) and Brock Lotus (Matt Servitto).
Itching for the thrill of thievery and yearning for Carrie, who's now the wife of attorney Gordon Hopewell (Rus Blackwell) and mother of two, Lucas inadvertently gets tangled up in the rampant corruption of shunned Amish gangster Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen) while keeping a vigilant eye out for Mr. Rabbit (Ben Cross), the New York mob boss who wants revenge against Lucas and Carrie for the jewel heist that landed Lucas in prison. A party thrown by Proctor for the new sheriff is spoiled by a crasher, a member of the redneck Moody clan, who despise the Amish in general and Kai in particular.
Written by Jonathan Tropper & David Schickler; directed by Greg Yaitanes.
Episode #2: “The Rave”
Premieres Friday, January 18 at 11 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada
Hanson (Toby Leonard Moore), a desperate underling of Proctor, holds a rave in an Amish barn, selling homemade E pills stolen from his boss to Banshee youth, including Deva (Ryann Shane), Carrie's rebellious daughter. Catching wind of the plan, Lucas and his team orchestrate a raid, but the effects of a tainted batch of pills send many revelers into convulsions, with one notable fatality. Though Deva is ferried home safely by Lucas, Hanson isn't as fortunate when he returns to Kai's mansion following the debacle.
Written by Jonathan Tropper & David Schickler; directed by S.J. Clarkson.
Episode #3: “Meet the New Boss”
Premieres Friday, January 25 at 11 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada
A mixed martial arts title bout is being planned at the Kinaho Moon Casino, run by tribe leader Benjamin Longshadow (Russell Means) and his son Alex (Anthony Ruivivar). Huge profits are anticipated for Banshee investors, but the enterprise is threatened when the champion (Cedric Stewart) arrives and angers Lucas and especially Siobahn. Will Lucas keep his mouth shut and allow the fight to go on as planned?
Written by Jonathan Tropper & David Schickler; directed by Ole Christian Madsen.
In Eastern Canada, each episode of Banshee will be available in High Definition and On Demand, and on HBO Canada OnLine with Bell TV Online, Rogers Anyplace TV and Videotron's Illico Web. In Western Canada, each episode will be available in High Definition and On Demand, and online with participating broadcasters.
HBO Canada is a multiplex channel offered by
Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada). HBO Canada brings Canadians the current slate of signature dramatic programs for which HBO is known, together with new and never-before-seen programming including comedy series, live specials, sporting events, behind-the-scenes content and titles from HBO's extensive library - all in an uncut and commercial-free environment. HBO Canada is offered in high definition on HBO Canada HD and programming is accessible on demand and online where available by service provider. For more information, please visit
www.hbocanada.com.
The Movie Network is a member of the
Astral family.
Astral Media Inc. (TSX : ACM.A/ACM.B) is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and interactive media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit
astral.com.
Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B), a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing, children's animation and animation software. Experience Corus on the web at
www.corusent.com.
For access to
The Movie Network's media room or Movie Central's press site, please visit
http://press.astral.com or
http://mediacentre.corusent.com.
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