The Acorn TV Original Series will make its Exclusive U.S. Premiere in Nov./Dec. 2016;
StarringJim Sturgess, Alfie Allen, Alfred Molina, Angela Bassett, and Freddie Highmore
Acorn TV’s Rapidly Growing Originals Slate also includes
Agatha Raisin,Agatha Christie’s A Witness for the Prosecution,Irish dramaStriking Outand British thrillerThe Level
Silver Spring, MD; October 5, 2016 – Following several recent Acorn TV Originals co-production announcements, Acorn Media Enterprises (AME), the development division for the Acorn brand of RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE), has partnered with All3Media International and the BBC as the North American co-producer of the thrilling new period drama CLOSE TO THE ENEMY. From acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Poliakoff (Perfect Strangers, Dancing on the Edge), this Acorn TV Original Series features an impressive ensemble cast, including Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe, 21), Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2), Angela Bassett (American Horror Story), August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds), Lindsay Duncan (The Honourable Woman), Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel), Robert Glenister (Hustle, Prime Suspect), and Charlotte Riley (Peaky Blinders). Set in a bomb-damaged London hotel in the aftermath of the Second World War, Close to the Enemy follows intelligence officer Captain Callum Ferguson (Sturgess), whose last task for the Army is to ensure that a captured German scientist, Dieter (Diehl), starts working for the British RAF on urgently developing the jet engine. Coinciding with the BBC broadcast, the seven-part series will make its U.S. Premiere on Acorn TV, the premier North American streaming service for world-class TV from Britain and beyond, in November/December 2016.
President of Acorn Brands at RLJ Entertainment Mark Stevens noted, “After the hugely successful August premiere of Agatha Raisin, our first Acorn TV Original Series, we’re thrilled to offer our subscribers the next Acorn TV Original with the thrilling drama series Close to the Enemy. Award-winning filmmaker Stephen Poliakoff penned the gripping script and directed an incredible cast with a cinematic production set in war-torn Britain.”
With the emerging Cold War, it is clear to all that it's crucial for British national security that cutting-edge technology is made available to the armed forces as quickly as possible. Callum uses unorthodox methods in his attempt to convince Dieter to work with the British and eventually a friendship develops between the two men, but soon tensions arise, as all is not as it seems.
Over the course of the series, Callum encounters a number of other characters whose stories all intertwine. These characters include Victor (Highmore), Callum’s younger brother, struggling to deal with psychological trauma caused by his combat experience; Harold (Molina), a Foreign Office official who reveals some startling truths about the outbreak of the war; Rachel (Riley), an enchanting Anglophile American engaged to his best friend; and Kathy (Phoebe Fox, The Woman in Black 2), a tough young woman working for the War Crimes Unit, fighting to bring war criminals who escaped prosecution to justice. Each character is trying to rebuild and move forward in the aftermath of a war that scarred them all so deeply.
RLJ Entertainment’s Acorn, named the “chief curators of the best Brit TV” by TIME magazine, holds exclusive United Kingdom, Australian, and North American distribution rights to many of the top British and international programs, which are available for broadcast television, digital download, digital streaming, and in lavishly packaged DVDs/Blu-rays.
The Acorn brand has received an Emmy® nomination for the final episode of Agatha Christie’s Poirot and an Edgar®-Award for George Gently. Acorn also co-produced the BBC mystery series Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime and the final two series of the beloved mystery series Foyle’s War. This year, Acorn TV Original Series co-production announcements included Ashley Jensen’s Agatha Raisin,Agatha Christie’s A Witness for the Prosecution, Irish legal drama Striking Out and British thriller The Level.
Streaming service Acorn TV adds new exclusive programs every week and features a deep library of mysteries, dramas, and comedies with no set end dates. Subscribers can stream many of their favorite international series and discover new and classic programs previously unavailable to U.S. audiences. Acorn TV series include BAFTA-winning comedy Detectorists, Guy Pearce’s noir thriller Jack Irish, hit dramedy Doc Martin, French drama series The Disappearance, Australia’s #1 drama 800 Words, BBC period drama The Secret Agent, Aussie political thriller The Code, ‘Best Dramatic Series’ winner and International Emmy® Award nominated drama 19-2 (Season 3 Oct. 24), ITV dramedy Brief Encounters (Oct. 31), Aussie crime drama Deep Water (Nov. 7), breakout British comedy Raised by Wolves (Series 2 Nov. 21), Aussie drama A Place to Call Home (Season 4 Nov. 24), and many more. Acorn TV offers a free 30-day trial and thereafter is just $4.99/month or $49.99/year.
NOTES:
WATCH NOW: Close to the Enemy is available to watch now at the press streaming site, http://press.rlje.net/
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RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) is an entertainment content distribution company in primarily North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. RLJE’s titles are distributed in multiple formats including broadcast television (including satellite and cable), theatrical and non-theatrical, DVD, Blu-Ray, digital download, and digital streaming.
With its popular OTT branded channels, Acorn TV (British TV) and UMC (Urban Movie Channel), RLJE targets distinct, premium audiences and Urban niche audiences. The company grows its proprietary digital channels through development, acquisition, and distribution of exclusive rights of program franchises and feature film content.
Through Acorn Media Enterprises, its UK development arm, RLJE owns all rights to the hit UK mystery series Foyle’s War and is developing new programs. RLJE owns 64% of Agatha Christie Limited, which manages the intellectual property and publishing rights to some of the greatest works of mystery fiction, including stories of the iconic sleuths Miss Marple and Poirot. Through its proprietary e-commerce web sites for the Acorn brand in North America and the UK, the company also has direct contacts and billing relationships with millions of consumers.
For more information, please visit RLJEntertainment.com, Acorn.TV, and UrbanMovieChannel.com.
RLJE/Acorn TV: Chad Campbell, 3301.830.6203, ccampbell@rljentertainment.com
