“Banshee is a kick: ultraviolent, over-the-top, and wickedly fun”

Entertainment Weekly

 
“Its story, littered with intriguingly repellent characters, grows ever more enticing”

Wall Street Journal

London (Wednesday February 13th, 2012):  As part of its exclusive deal with HBO and on-going commitment to bring the best of the US to Sky customers, SKY ATLANTIC HD today announces that new action drama series BANSHEE (10 x 60’) will premiere exclusively to Sky customers on the channel and on the move via Sky Go this May.

Executive produced by Academy Award®, Golden Globe® Award and Emmy® Award winner Alan Ball (True Blood, Six Feet Under, American Beauty), Jonathan Tropper, David Schickler, Peter Macdissi and Greg Yaitanes (Emmy® Award winner for House M.D), BANSHEE stars Antony Starr (Rush) as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Philadelphia, where he continues his criminal activities, even as he’s hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier.

The HBO produced series for Cinemax also stars Ivana Milicevic (Charlie’s Angels, Vegas) as Carrie Hopewell, Hood’s former partner in crime, who now resides in Banshee under an assumed identity with her new family, who know nothing of her shady past. Ulrich Thomsen (Festen) stars as Kai Proctor, an intimidating, wealthy, local Amish businessman who believes he is above the law, Frankie Faison (The Good Wife, The Wire) plays Sugar Bates, a wise, powerful former boxer and ex-con who now owns the local watering hole, Hoon Lee (Premium Rush) is Job, a dangerous transvestite computer hacker who assists Lucas in his criminal enterprises, Rus Blackwell (Burn Notice, Recount) stars as Gulf War hero Gordon Hopewell, Banshee’s district attorney, who is married to Carrie; and Matt Servitto (The Sopranos) plays Brock Lotus, the longest-serving deputy in the Banshee sheriff department, who is threatened by Hood’s new role as sheriff.

British actor Ben Cross (Chariots of Fire, Star Trek) also features as Rabbit, a ruthless Ukranian gangster who has been hunting Lucas and Carrie, his former top thieves, for 15 years.

Executive Producer Alan Ball comments on the series, “The town of Banshee has a complex history… your typical pastoral American town with a dark, seedy underbelly of sex and violence and greed … and impossible love.”

Described as “taut, entertaining and smart” by the Hollywood Reporter, BANSHEE has recently been renewed for a second season. BANSHEE will air this May exclusively on Sky Atlantic HD.  Following the addition of Sky Atlantic HD to Sky Go, customers will be able to watch BANSHEE on the move on iPad, selected smartphones and laptops at no extra cost.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Lesley Land

Publicist, Sky Atlantic

T: +44 (0)20 7032 0676                                   

M: +44 (0)7788 168 760

lesley.land@bskyb.com

Follow us on twitter @skyatlantic, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/skyatlantic  and visit us on the web www.sky.com/atlantic

Photography available from www.image.net or StillsDepartment@bskyb.com

Notes to Editors:

About Sky:

Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company.  Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.

Sky is the UK’s biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.3 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News.   Around two-thirds of Sky’s content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes.  More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.

Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator.  Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.  

Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi.  NOW TV, Sky’s second consumer brand, builds on the company’s leadership in internet TV.  Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play’ provider of TV, broadband and home phone.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts.  Sky employs 23,000 people, has annual revenues of £6.8 billion and is estimated to support a £5.4 billion contribution to UK GDP.  Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).  www.sky.com/corporate

For further information please contact

Lesley Land - Sky 1 HD PR Manager, Sky
T:
E: Lesley.Land@bskyb.com