EPIX Unveils Original Scripted Series

NEW YORK: EPIX has added to its roster of original scripted programming with two new series: Graves, from Lionsgate Television, and Berlin Station, from Paramount Television.

They mark the first original series that will appear on EPIX across its channels, EPIX On Demand, EPIX.com and TV Everywhere platforms with its distribution partners.  A third original series from MGM will be announced in the near future.

Berlin Station is a 10×1-hour espionage drama. Academy Award nominee Michaël Roskam (Bullhead, The Drop) will executive produce the straight-to-series order and is set to direct the first two episodes. American spy novelist Olen Steinhauer (The Cairo Affair, All the Old Knives) will write and executive produce the series. Academy Award winner Eric Roth (The Hunger Games, The Insider, Munich) and Anonymous Content (True Detective, The Knick) will also serve as executive producers.

Graves is a single-camera comedy starring Nick Nolte as a former U.S. president. The ten-episode, straight-to-series order will be produced in partnership with Lionsgate TV. Joshua Michael Stern (Swing Vote) created the project and will write, direct and executive produce the series. Oscar-winning producer Greg Shapiro (The Hurt Locker) will also be an executive producer.

EPIX and MGM are finalizing an agreement on an original series that will add to the network’s programming lineup. Specific details will be announced in the near future.

Mark Greenberg, the president and CEO of EPIX, said, “Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM are great partners, investors and supporters of our network and are proven leaders in television entertainment. Tapping into the creative talents of these entertainment power-houses to deliver this kind of compelling programming is exactly what we had envisioned when we created this joint-venture and launched the channel. Our focus was on business success and profitability first and having established that firm business foundation, we are now in a position to launch our original series with these two great shows from Lionsgate and Paramount and a third on the way from MGM.”
 
Jocelyn Diaz, the executive VP for original programming, added, “Original series provide a platform to build our brand and distinguish our offering. We are proud of the level of quality and sophistication of these projects and are thrilled to announce them today with our partners.”

"Olen is among the most respected espionage voices of our time, and Michael has a seasoned and distinct command of noir. Together, they make the ideal creative team to collaborate with on this sophisticated and gritty modern-day spy thriller," said Amy Powell, the president of Paramount Television. "We also take great pride in partnering with the distinguished and prolific storyteller Eric Roth and the talented team at EPIX on developing an inspired original series that is reflective of the network’s commitment to high-quality entertainment."

"Graves is a perfect vehicle to usher EPIX into premium scripted programming, and we look forward to delivering high-end quality content for years to come," said Kevin Beggs, the chairman of Lionsgate Television Group. "Graves is a provocative comedy featuring a terrific script from writer/director Joshua Michael Stern, a consummate producer in Greg Shapiro and the brilliant and charismatic Nick Nolte as a former U.S. President whose conscience catches up with him with tragic and comic results. It is perfectly timed to premiere in an election year and marks a new chapter in the successful evolution of EPIX as a leading premium cable platform."

“We are working with EPIX to develop our next exciting series and look forward to bringing our signature style and storytelling to EPIX soon,” commented Roma Khanna, the president of MGM Television Group and Digital. “From Vikings to Fargo, MGM Television is the force behind some of the most exciting and award-winning series currently on television.”