Academy Award(R) winning actress Marlee Matlin, best known for her groundbreaking work in Children of a Lesser God, Cheryl Hines ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Zach Gilford ("Kingdom," "Friday Night Lights") and Colt Prattes (Dirty Dancing) have been cast in Sundance Now's upcoming scripted original, THIS CLOSE, set to premiere on the Subscription VOD service in early 2018.
"This Close," a groundbreaking
Sundance Now original dramedy created by, written by, and starring Shoshannah Stern and Josh Feldman, both of whom are deaf, is the streaming service's first ever straight-to-series order. Based on a series of shorts featured at the 2017
Sundance Film Festival's Short Form Episodic Showcase, this honest, funny and endearing show explores the relationship between best friends Kate (Stern), who is newly engaged, and Michael (Feldman), who is attempting to move on from his ex-fiancé.
Comprised of six, 30-minute episodes, "This Close" touches on universal and relatable themes and, in addition to Stern and Feldman, features a talented ensemble cast including Zach Gilford who plays Danny, Kate's (Stern) fiancé; Cheryl Hines as Stella, a PR maven and Kate's boss; Colt Prattes as Ryan, Michael's (Feldman) ex; and Marlee Matlin as Michael's mother, Annie, a recovering alcoholic trying to reconnect with her son.
Jan Diedrichsen, General Manager of SundanceTV and
Sundance Now, said: "When
Sundance Now made the decision this past spring to forge into originals, we had two goals in mind. The first was to extend the
Sundance legacy by uncovering storytellers and auteurs who had a distinctive vision. The second was to find talent that would truly connect with our engaged audience on
Sundance Now. With 'This Close,' we've completely hit the mark on both fronts. We knew we had something special when we discovered Shoshannah and Josh's work at the
Sundance Film Festival. They are masterful storytellers and terrific actors, and this narrative, both charming and relatable, is the perfect fit for our service."
He added: "We are tremendously lucky to add so many talented actors to this ensemble: Marlee, whose work has inspired both deaf and hearing actors, and who, is to date, the only deaf actor to be honored with an Academy Award; Zach, whose nuanced Friday Night Lights performance warmed our hearts; Cheryl, whose comedic range is outstanding; and Colt who brings an honesty and authenticity to this role."
"This Close" is Executive Produced by Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa for Killer Films, Mary Pat Bentel and Paul Young, along with Stern and Feldman. Super Deluxe serves as the studio for the
Sundance Now Original production, with Winnie Kemp overseeing production.
To stream all
Sundance Now content via web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, and Chromecast, visit SundanceNow.com and sign up for a free trial.
About
Sundance Now
Sundance Now brings members the best in award-winning films, documentaries & binge-worthy TV series. From exclusive
Sundance Now Originals to new releases and hard-to-find classics -
Sundance Now has captivating stories for everyone. Members can easily discover something great to watch in one of our handpicked collections, curated by filmmakers and cultural icons.
Sundance Now is owned and operated by
AMC Networks, which has had a long history supporting and cultivating independent film and is the company behind some of the most popular, influential and successful stories ever made for TV and film, including "The Walking Dead," "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "Orphan Black," "Portlandia" and Boyhood. The company's portfolio of networks - AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV and
We tv - and its film distribution company
IFC Films have been recognized with the industry's most distinguished honors, including multiple Emmy(R) Awards, Golden Globe(R) Awards, Oscars(R) and Peabody Awards. Follow
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