Production Has Commenced in New Mexico
Series Created by Joshua Michael Stern and Produced by Lionsgate to
Debut Fall 2016
Premium TV network EPIX® announced today that the Golden Globe® and
two-time Emmy® award-winning actress Sela Ward has been cast to star
with Nick Nolte in Graves, a single-camera half-hour
political satire produced by Lionsgate. Ward will play Margaret Graves,
the wife of former U.S. President Richard Graves (Nolte), who decides to
follow her own political ambitions just as her husband embarks on a Don
Quixote-like journey to right the wrongs of his administration. Ms. Ward
replaces Susan Sarandon who departed the series due to artistic
differences. Production has commenced in New Mexico.
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Sela Ward joins Nick Nolte to Star in EPIX Original Series Graves (Photo: Business Wire)
“Sela Ward is a gifted talent who has the presence and attitude to bring
the character of Margaret and her story to life,” said Mark S.
Greenberg, President and CEO, EPIX. “I am delighted that she has joined Graves
and I’m confident that the show’s sense of style, storytelling and wit
will resonate with premium viewers across all platforms.”
“We are thrilled to have award-winning actress Sela Ward join the cast
of Graves,” said Kevin Beggs, Chairman, Lionsgate Television
Group. “Known for playing characters with strength, humor and grace,
Sela will be a formidable political player and wife to Nick Nolte’s
former President in one of EPIX’s first original series.”
Ward, a respected and well-recognized film and TV actor, recently
completed filming Independence Day: Resurgence directed by Roland
Emmerich. Her film credits include Gone Girl, The Stepfather, The
Guardian, The Day After Tomorrow and The Fugitive.
Ward won her first Emmy® for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
in 1994 for her portrayal of ‘Teddy Reed’ in the acclaimed television
series “Sisters.” She won her second Emmy® in 2001 in the same category
for playing ‘Lily Manning’ in “Once and Again” which also earned her a
Golden Globe® Award for that role. Recent television credits include
“CSI: New York” and “House M.D.”
Graves cast includes: Nick Nolte as Richard
Graves; Sela Ward as Margaret Graves; Skylar Astin as
Isaiah Miller; Heléne Yorke as Olivia Graves; Chris Lowell
as Jeremy Graves; Callie Hernandez as Samantha; Ernie Hudson
as Jacob Mann; Roger Bart as Lawrence and Angélica Maria as
Ramona Alvarez.
Created and written by Joshua Michael Stern (Swing Vote, Jobs), Graves is
executive produced by Stern and Oscar®-winning producer Greg Shapiro (The
Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty) and produced by Bill Hill (“Veep,”
“Eastbound & Down”). Production for the 10-episode series will take
place in New Mexico. Graves will premiere on EPIX in Fall 2016.
The half-hour political satire is produced by Lionsgate.
Ward is represented by The Gersh Agency.
About EPIX
EPIX is a premium movie and original programming entertainment network
delivering the latest movie releases, classic film franchises, original
documentaries, comedy and music events on TV, on demand, online and on
digital devices. Launched in October 2009, EPIX has pioneered the
development and proliferation of “TV Everywhere.” It was the first
premium network to provide multi-platform access to its content online
at EPIX.com and
to launch on Xbox, PlayStation®, Android phones and tablets, and Roku®
players. EPIX is also available across Chromecast, Apple® iPhones® and
iPads®, Android TV and more and is the only premium service providing
all its programming on all platforms, delivering more movies than any
other premium network, with thousands of titles available for streaming.
EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc., its Paramount Pictures
unit, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM). Through
relationships with cable, satellite and telco partners, EPIX is
available to over 50 million homes nationwide. For more information
about EPIX, go to www.EPIX.com.
Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD (http://www.twitter.com/EpixHD)
and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/EPIX),
YouTube (http://youtube.com/EPIX),
Instagram (http://instagram.com/EPIX),
Google+ (http://plus.google.com/+EPIX),
Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/EPIX)
and Vine (https://vine.co/EPIX).
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a
strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and
distribution, television programming and syndication, home
entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms, video games
and international distribution and sales. Lionsgate currently has more
than 30 television shows on over 20 different networks spanning its
primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including
the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black, the
multiple Emmy Award-winning drama Mad Men, the hit broadcast
network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy
Williams Show, the acclaimed drama Manhattan and the breakout
series The Royals.
Its feature film business has been fueled by such successes as the
blockbuster first three installments of The Hunger Games
franchise, the first two installments of the Divergent franchise, The
Age of Adaline, CBS/Lionsgate’s The DUFF, John Wick,
Now You See Me, Roadside Attractions' Love & Mercy and Mr.
Holmes, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films’ Addicted and Pantelion
Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing
Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.
Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box
office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate
handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000
motion picture and television titles that is an important source of
recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the
Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain
synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets
around the world. www.lionsgate.com
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