EDMONTON, Alberta & BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starz Worldwide Distribution, the global television licensing arm of Starz, and Super Channel, Canada’s only national English pay television network, announced their latest expanded multi-year output agreement that will continue to bring new, high profile STARZ Originals programming and an annual collection of movie titles distributed by Starz Worldwide Distribution to Super Channels’ Canadian subscribers.
As a result of the latest content licensing deal, Super Channel will be the exclusive English pay television home in Canada for STARZ Originals during the life of the series and their premium television runs for several future STARZ Original series, including “Ash vs Evil Dead,” the long-awaited STARZ Original series based on the classic horror film, The Evil Dead, and “The Girlfriend Experience,” a STARZ anthology series from Steven Soderbergh, and the first STARZ Original movie, The Dresser, a STARZ and BBC Co-Production of Richard Eyre’s television adaptation of Ronald Harwood’s, The Dresser, one of the great British plays about life in the theatre.
“Starz Worldwide is ecstatic to continue its multiyear relationship with Super Channel and bring ‘Ash vs Evil Dead’ and ‘Flesh and Bone’ to Canada this fall, followed by two exciting future projects in ‘The Girlfriend Experience’ and The Dresser,” said Gene George, EVP, Worldwide Distribution for Starz Worldwide Distribution. "Super Channel has long been a great home for our content in Canada, and continuing with Super Channel reflects the strong commitment shown for our growing STARZ Originals programming portfolio and the success of our content to audiences in Canada.”
“Super Channel continues to prove itself as the best place to find high quality, original premium pay television programming in Canada,” said Sandy Perkins, Vice President of Programming for Super Channel. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be bringing these highly sought after new STARZ programs to our subscribers.”
About “Ash vs Evil Dead”
“Ash vs Evil Dead” is the long-awaited follow-up to the classic horror film The Evil Dead. The 10-episode first season of the half-hour series is executive produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell, the original filmmakers of the franchise, and Craig DiGregorio who will serve as Executive Producer and showrunner. Campbell will be reprising his role as Ash, the stock boy, aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons - personal and literal. Destiny, it turns out, has no plans to release the unlikely hero from its "Evil" grip.
The cast is led by Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead, Burn Notice) in the role of Ash Williams, Lucy Lawless (Salem, Spartacus) as Ruby, a mysterious figure who believes Ash is the cause of the Evil outbreaks, Ray Santiago (Touch, Meet the Fockers) as Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash's loyal sidekick, Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas) as Kelly Maxwell, a moody wild child trying to outrun her past, and Jill Marie Jones (Sleepy Hollow) as Amanda Fisher, a disgraced Michigan State Trooper set to find our anti-hero Ash and prove his responsibility in the grisly murder of her partner.
About “Flesh & Bone”
“Flesh and Bone” is an 8 episode limited series that follows a young dancer with a distinctly troubled past as she joins a prestigious ballet company in New York. The dark, gritty, complex series unflinchingly explores New York City through the eyes of Claire, played by Sarah Hay (Black Swan), an emotionally wounded but transcendent ballerina navigating the dysfunction and glamour of the ballet world. Claire's self-destructive tendencies amid her vaulting ambitions drive her in compelling, unforeseeable ways, especially when she is confronted with the machinations of the company's mercurial Artistic Director, played by Ben Daniels (House of Cards, Law & Order UK), and an unwelcome visitor from her past. “Flesh and Bone” was created by Emmy® award-winning Breaking Bad writer and Executive Producer Moira Walley-Beckett. John Melfi (House of Cards, Sex and the City), Lawrence Bender (Inglourious Basterds, Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting) and Kevin Brown (Roswell) are Executive Producers.
About “The Girlfriend Experience”
“The Girlfriend Experience,” a 13-episode anthology series inspired by Steven Soderbergh’s 2009 film of the same name, explores a world where love has a price. Shot in Toronto, it stars Riley Keough as Christine Reade, a second year law student and new intern at a prestigious firm. Working hard to establish herself at the firm, her focus quickly shifts when a law school friend introduces her to the world of transactional relationships. Known as GFEs, they are women who provide “The Girlfriend Experience”—emotional and sexual relationships at a very high price. Juggling two very different lives, Christine quickly finds herself entangled in an ever-broadening web of intrigue and betrayal. It’s a far cry from her childhood in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Steven Soderbergh and Philip Fleishman serve as Executive Producers along with independent filmmakers Lodge Kerrigan and Amy Seimetz, who also wrote and directed the series.
About The Dresser
The Dresser is a television adaptation of Ronald Harwood’s classic play, set against the backdrop of World War II and inspired by Harwood’s own experiences as a dresser for the distinguished British actor/manager Sir Donald Wolfit. The movie for television is directed by Richard Eyre and stars Anthony Hopkins (Noah, Thor, Silence of the Lambs) as “Sir” and Ian McKellen (The Hobbit franchise, X-Men franchise, Lord of the Rings franchise) as his dresser “Norman.” Emily Watson (The Theory of Everything, War Horse) and Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax) round out the stellar cast.
The Dresser tells the story of one fateful night in a small regional theatre during World War II as a troupe of touring actors stage a production of Shakespeare’s King Lear. Bombs are falling, sirens are wailing, the curtain is up in an hour but the actor/manager “Sir” who is playing Lear is nowhere to be seen. His dresser “Norman” must scramble to keep the production alive but will Sir turn up in time and if he does will he be able to perform that night?
About Super Channel
Super Channel is Canada’s only national English pay television network, consisting of four HD channels, four SD channels, and Super Channel On Demand.
Super Channel’s vision is to expand the Canadian premium TV experience by offering a broad range of fresh, entertaining movies, series, documentaries and concerts. Super Channel is owned by Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc., an Edmonton-based media company.
Super Channel (www.superchannel.ca) is currently available on Bell TV, Shaw Direct, Rogers Anyplace TV, Shaw Cable, Cogeco Cable, Access Communications, Bell Aliant TV, Source Cable, SaskTel, MTS, Novus, EastLink, TELUS, Videotron and other regional providers.
About Starz Worldwide Distribution
Starz Worldwide Distribution (www.starzglobal.com)is the global television licensing arm of Starz. Starz Worldwide Distribution licenses STARZ Original series and is a leading distributor of other owned and licensed third party programming including movies, television series, documentaries, children’s programming, and other video content. Starz Worldwide Distribution is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com.
