Cast Includes Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell, Michelle Dockery,
with Michael Gambon and Charlotte Rampling
Based on William Boyd Novel, Drama Will Be Produced by Emmy® Award Winner Hilary Bevan Jones and Directed by Edward Hall
New York, NY, June 25, 2012 – Bolstering its scripted programming slate, Sundance Channel is co-producing “Restless,” a two part original mini-series slated to premiere December 2012. Celebrated award-winning contemporary British novelist William Boyd penned both the book and script, which depicts the thrilling story of a daughter who discovers that her mother was recruited as a spy during World War II. The series will be produced by Emmy Award winner Hilary Bevan Jones (“State of Play,” “The Girl in the Café”) under her shingle Endor Productions and directed by acclaimed theater and television director Edward Hall.
The cast includes Hayley Atwell (“Any Human Heart,” “Captain America”) Rufus Sewell (“Pillars of the Earth,” “Zen”), Michelle Dockery (“Downton Abbey”, “Anna Karenina”), Michael Gambon (“Page Eight,” Luck) and Charlotte Rampling (“Melancholia,” “The Eye of the Storm”). Filming will commence this summer in South Africa and the UK, and will air in December 2012.
Sarah Barnett, General Manager of Sundance Channel, stated, “Restless’ is a compelling new tale of espionage, complete with fresh, arresting characters and surprise at every turn. That – along with the roster of talent associated with this production – makes ‘Restless’ a perfect addition to our original scripted programming line-up. We aim with our scripted work to create high quality, engaging stories told from a singular point of view – like the Golden Globe® award winning ‘Carlos’ and the Golden Globe nominated ‘Appropriate Adult.’ We’re delighted that ‘Restless’ is our next scripted project to air on Sundance Channel."
Screenwriter and author, William Boyd says: “To have the chance to film a novel like Restless is the sort of opportunity that only a television adaptation can provide. It represents the most enticing and alluring of possibilities – not only to tell an enthralling story of wartime espionage, love and betrayal but also to lift the lid on one of the last secrets of the Second World War.”
What becomes of your life when everything you thought was solid and certain about it turns out to be a fantastically complicated lie? This happens to Ruth Gilmartin (Michelle Dockery) when, one day in 1976, her mother Sally (Charlotte Rampling) suddenly tells her she has been living a double life. She is not respectable Sally Gilmartin but in fact Eva Delectorskaya, a spy for the British Secret Service who has been on the run for thirty years.
Eva’s story begins in Paris in 1939. Eva (Hayley Attwell), a beautiful Russian émigrée, is recruited for the British Secret by Lucas Romer (Rufus Sewell), a mysteriously alluring Englishman. As Romer trains Eva to become the perfect spy their love affair begins. When a crucial mission collapses in the USA and Eva finds herself in terrible, fatal jeopardy she knows she has no option but to run and hide – forever. Once a spy always a spy. No-one can be trusted. But now Sally Gilmartin yearns to end her years of restless watching and waiting. Thirty years on, the only man who can bring this about is her former lover and spymaster, Lucas Romer, now Baron Mansfield of Hampton Cleeve (Michael Gambon), and the only person she can call on for help is her daughter, Ruth. The final chapter of this epic story of love, duplicity and betrayal is about to end – and who will pay the greatest price remains to be discovered.
RESTLESS (3×60”) is made by Endor Productions in association with Sundance Channel for BBC One. It is produced by Hilary Bevan Jones and Paul Frift for Endor and the Executive Producers are William Boyd with Matthew Read for BBC and Christian Vesper for Sundance Channel.
Producer, Hilary Bevan Jones says, “Restless weaves a great love story within a riveting espionage thriller. Trust, betrayal and the need to escape the past are at the heart of this story; and Will has brought these themes to the screen with great elan."
This production announcement follows a busy year for Sundance Channel in the scripted arena. The channel is currently in production in New Zealand on “Top of the Lake” from Jane Campion and starring Elisabeth Moss and Holly Hunter. It has also greenlit its first wholly owned production, “Rectify,” from the producers of “Breaking Bad” and Oscar® winner Ray McKinnon. Earlier this year, the network received Golden Globe and SAG® nominations for scripted mini-series “Appropriate Adult.” The network’s first scripted project, “Carlos”, won the Golden Globe for Outstanding Mini-series in 2011.
About Sundance Channel
Sundance Channel is the destination for What’s Next, Now. Showcasing both today’s creative icons and the emerging talent of tomorrow, Sundance Channel tells credible, authentic, and emotionally immersive stories of Invention, Fashion, Film, Travel, Design, and Enterprise. Launched in 1996 and owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc, Sundance Channel provides perspectives dedicated to founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity. sundancechannel.com
About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: AMCX) owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global, an international programming business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming origination and distribution company.
About Endor Productions
Endor Productions is spearheaded by Hilary Bevan Jones who is one of the most respected and successful players in the industry, winning a host of awards for ground-breaking and influential drama.
Hilary built her reputation at the BBC, working on Not the Nine O’Clock News, Blackadder and producing Red Dwarf. Moving into drama, she produced multi-award winning hit series Cracker and State of Play in partnership with leading screenwriter Paul Abbott. She also won a primetime Emmy for the acclaimed HBO film The Girl in the Café, scripted by Richard Curtis, directed by David Yates and starring Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald. On the big screen, she most recently produced The Boat That Rocked, written and directed by Richard Curtis.
In addition, Endor has an exciting slate of new TV and Film projects, working with key creative talent including Richard Curtis, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Neil Gaiman, Lenny Henry and Julian Farino. Balancing this work with established creatives, the company also has film projects in development with the BFI with emerging writing and directing talent.
In 2006, Hilary was made Chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the first woman in its 60 year-old history to hold this position. In that role, she championed its charitable commitment to learning and career development and was part of the resurgence of BAFTA; helping position it as an influential force in the global film and TV industry.
About Red Arrow Entertainment Group: Launched in January 2010 as a ProSiebenSat.1 Group company, Red Arrow combines a dynamic and growing group of 16 TV production companies spanning 9 countries, with powerful creative partnerships, including Dick de Rijk (You Deserve It, Deal or No Deal) and Genetic Entertainment (Home Sweet Hotel, Don’t Panic), and a leading programme distribution house.
In March 2012, Red Arrow Entertainment Group took a majority shareholding in Endor Productions and Restless is the first commission to go into production under the new partnership. Restless will be sold worldwide by SevenOne International, the distribution company of ProSiebenSat.1 Group, Red Arrow’s parent company.