Thandie Newton to Star in DirecTV's Original Drama Series ROGUE

DirecTV announced today that it has ordered ten episodes of an original suspense-drama, ROGUE, starring award-winning actress Thandie Newton (Mission Impossible 2, Crash) from leading independent studio Entertainment One Television (eOne) and Greenroom Entertainment. ROGUE marks DirecTV's first foray into commissioning an original drama series exclusively for its customers. Production is slated to begin in August 2012 and the series will premiere next summer 2013 on DirecTV's Audience Network.

ROGUE revolves around a morally and emotionally conflicted cop, Grace (Newton), who is tormented by the possibility that her own actions contributed to her son's death. Grace's search for the truth is further complicated by her forbidden relationship with the crime boss who may have played a hand in the crime. With the addition of ROGUE, DirecTV expands on its commitment to offer quality, exclusive programming to its customers after establishing great success in providing a home and new creative life to Emmy-winning series such as Damages and Friday Night Lights, and exclusive, first-run series like Underbelly, The Slap and the upcoming series, Hit & Miss.

"There's an excitement in the hallways of DirecTV as ROGUE will be the first original series on the Audience Network that will be built from the ground up with the specific goal to provide DirecTV customers with a premium entertainment experience they can't get anywhere else," said Chris Long, senior vice president Entertainment and Production, DirecTV. "The unique partnership that Patty Ishimoto, vice president and general manager of Audience Network, struck with eOne and Greenroom Entertainment and her relationship with Momentum Entertainment has helped realize that goal. Together they bring a wealth of expertise in the areas of production, global distribution, brand integration and sponsorship to our domestic distribution and marketing prowess."

"ROGUE is a powerful drama which represents a new model for the entertainment industry by opening up maximum creative opportunities to assemble a stellar international cast led by Thandie Newton and topline writing and creative talent," said Nick Hamm of Greenroom Entertainment. "Our launch of ROGUE in less than a year since I forged a partnership with Momentum Entertainment Group is a testament to the results-driven team behind this project. We are in the business of making premium contemporary dramas that have mass appeal. I'm thrilled to collaborate on ROGUE with such forward thinking partners as DirecTV and eOne who see the potential of this new model to produce scripted television shows of the highest caliber."

"eOne is thrilled to be collaborating with talented and creative executives like Nick and Matthew on ROGUE, the natural evolution of our excellent relationship with DirecTV," said Michael Rosenberg, executive vice president, U.S. Scripted for eOne Television. "Adding Thandie Newton to the mix confirms that we have all the right ingredients to make amazing television."

ROGUE will be executive produced by renowned UK Producer/Director Nick Hamm for Greenroom Entertainment; John Morayniss and Michael Rosenberg for eOne; and Steven Marrs from Momentum Entertainment Group, who also helped broker the deal with DirecTV. Series creator Matthew Parkhill (The Caller) will also serve as writer and supervising producer. In addition to airing on DirecTV's Audience Network, ROGUE will air on Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada).

eOne will handle worldwide rights to the series in all media.

About Audience Network:

The Audience Network is a unique and exclusive television experience available only to DirecTV subscribers. The channel first made its mark in 2008 (as The 101 Network) by partnering with NBC to produce and air three additional seasons of the Emmy Award-winning series Friday Night Lights and more recently became the exclusive home of the critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning drama Damages starring Glenn Close. The network has become the premier destination for smart, innovative and critically acclaimed TV fare as we search the globe for the best new series such as Hit & Miss (United Kingdom), Rake (Australia), Call Me Fitz and Less Than Kind (Canada). The Dan Patrick Show, and its companion series The Box Score, keep sports fans up to date with the latest sports talk. Viewers also enjoy major events such as the annual DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl and DirecTV Old School Challenge.