Silver Spring, MD; November 27, 2018 - Featuring “the most robust, reliable selection of European, British, Canadian and Australian shows” (The New York Times), Acorn TV, North America’s largest streaming service specializing in British and international television, announces a deal with international distributor DRG to be the exclusive North and South American partner for new ITV drama Manhunt. Based upon the memoirs of former London Metropolitan police detective DCI Colin Sutton, the three-part drama from Buffalo Pictures stars BAFTA- and SAG-award winning actor Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Shakespeare in Love) as DCI Sutton who determinedly and tenaciously pursued serial killer Levi Bellfield. Acorn TV will exclusively premiere the series in North America in early 2019 as an Acorn TV Original. Also, part of the deal and premiering as an Acorn TV Original in 2019 is Martin Clunes’s newest travel documentary series, Islands of America.
Lead Martin Clunes and producer Philippa Braithwaite (Doc Martin, Arthur & George) are scheduled to participate at the Television Critics Association in February 2019 to discuss Manhunt and Islands of America.
Shannon Cooper, Director of Programming for Acorn brands at RLJ Entertainment, says, “Martin Clunes remains one of the most popular actors with our subscribers from Doc Martin, his travel documentaries, among several other shows, so we’re thrilled to acquire his newest dramatic role in Manhunt and work with Buffalo Pictures again. The compelling program also marks another first-rate production with DRG, our partners on Detectorists and The Level, among many others.”
Scott Kirkpatrick, SVP, North & South America for DRG, said, “DRG is excited to be overseeing international distribution for what’s sure to be another first-rate drama from Buffalo Pictures. Our friends at Acorn TV are ideal partners for premiering high-quality British drama in the United States.”
Written by Ed Whitmore (Silent Witness, Strike Back) and directed by Marc Evans (Trauma, Safe House, Hinterland), Manhunt is the real-life story of how the murder of French National, Amelie Delagrange, on Twickenham Green in August 2004 was eventually linked to two other murders. Walking home following a night out with friends, 22 years old Amelie was savagely attacked and struck several times on the back of the head with a hammer. Hard working and instinctive, DCI Sutton was assigned to the case and dedicated himself to finding Amelie’s killer. With very little evidence, his painstaking approach and the diligence of his fellow officers gradually led to breakthroughs in the case and to suspected serial killer Levi Bellfield.
Following his popular Islands of Australia and Islands of Britain series, Martin Clunes newest four-part travel documentary explores the Islands of America. Starting in in the frigid waters of Alaska, Martin will work his way south along the coast of Washington State and California, before crossing to Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia. Finally, his journey – by boat and plane – will steer him north up past Long Island, bringing him to the coast of New England. Along the way, he’ll ride with saltwater cowboys on Assateague; enter a hot dog eating contest on Coney Island; fish for giant halibut off the Alaskan coast; join a gospel choir with the isolated descendants of plantation slaves; he’ll shuck clams, dive with seals and sample life on an island which hasn’t had a shop since 1942.
Acorn TV is having another record-setting year with commission announcements for Agatha Raisin, Series 2 starring Ashley Jensen and premiering on Mon., Nov. 19, the straight-to-series order of British drama London Kills, Series 1 and 2 starring Hugo Speers and Sharon Small, and British mystery Queens of Mystery starring Olivia Vinall and Julie Graham; co-production announcements for Irish thriller Blood starring Adrian Dunbar, Welsh family drama Pitching In starring Larry Lamb and Hayley Mills, and Irish comedy Finding Joy from Amy Huberman (Mon., Dec. 3); the licensing of hit ABC Australia drama Mystery Road starring Judy Davis and Aaron Pedersen, British police procedural No Offence from Paul Abbott, Aussie conspiracy thriller Jack Irish starring Guy Pearce, BAFTA Cymru ‘Television Drama’ winner Bang, BBC One smash hit Line of Duty, Season 5 from Jed Mercurio (Bodyguard), and My Life is Murder starring Lucy Lawless; and expansion into twelve Latin American countries. Read recent announcements at https://www.rljentertainment.com/press-room/
Called “Netflix for the Anglophile” by NPR, Acorn TV has quickly become one of the top streamers and is the greatest value in streaming at only $4.99 a month and is commercial free. Acorn TV curates the very best in international television and remains North America’s largest streaming service for international television. Acorn TV exclusively premieres several new international series and/or seasons every month from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and other European countries.
Website: Acorn.TV
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About RLJ Entertainment
A privately owned subsidiary of AMC Networks, RLJ Entertainment, Inc. is a premium digital channel company serving distinct audiences primarily through its popular OTT branded channels, Acorn TV (British TV) and UMC (Urban Movie Channel), which have rapidly grown through development, acquisition, and distribution of its exclusive rights to a large library of international and British dramas, independent feature films and urban content. RLJE’s titles are also distributed in multiple formats including broadcast and pay television, theatrical and non-theatrical, DVD, Blu-ray, UHD, and a variety of digital distribution models (including EST, VOD, SVOD and AVOD) in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Additionally, through Acorn Media Enterprises, its UK development arm, RLJE commissions and co-produces new programs and owns 64% of Agatha Christie Limited. For more information, please visit RLJENTERTAINMENT.COM, ACORN.TV, and UMC.TV
Press Contact: Chad Campbell | Acorn TV | VP, Publicity | ccampbell@acorn.tv
