Tom Weston-Jones to Lead Cast of BBC America's COPPER

BBC AMERICA, Cineflix Studios, and Shaw Media today announced lead cast for their original scripted series, COPPER. Tom Weston-Jones (MI-5, aka Spooks) is set to star as rugged Irish-American cop Kevin Corcoran. Alongside Weston Jones is Canadian Kyle Schmid (Blood Ties, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) as Robert Morehouse, a handsome bon vivant and part of Manhattan aristocracy, and Anastasia Griffith (Royal Pains, Damages), as the sophisticated and spirited Elizabeth Haverford. Rounding out the cast is Franka Potente (The Bourne Supremacy, Run Lola Run) who is set to play Eva Heissan, a shrewd businesswoman and the Madam of Eva's Paradise.

Additionally, the talents of three top production pros have been secured to develop and execute the look and feel of mid-1800s New York - the setting for COPPER. Steve Cosens (Durham County) has signed on as Director of Photography, John Blackie (Hell on Wheels) is Production Designer, and Delphine White (Breakout Kings) is Costume Designer.

COPPER is a gripping crime series set in 1860s New York City, and centers on Kevin Corcoran, an intense, rugged Irish-immigrant cop working the city's notorious Five Points neighborhood. Corcoran is struggling to maintain his moral compass in a turbulent world, while on an emotional and relentless quest to learn the truth about the disappearance of his wife and the death of his daughter. His friendship with two Civil War compatriots - the wayward son of a wealthy industrialist and an African American physician who secretly assists Corcoran with his work - takes him to the contrasting worlds of elegant Fifth Avenue and rural Harlem. The three men share a secret from their experience on the battlefield that inextricably links their lives forever.

"We're thrilled to have Tom Weston-Jones, Kyle Schmid, and Anastasia Griffith - all stars in the making - join the cast of COPPER," said Christina Wayne, President, Cineflix Studios. "Franka Potente brings her undeniable talent and feature experience to the mix."

"COPPER is a visually rich, unflinching drama that requires a gifted and experienced production team," said Vlad Wolynetz, President of Production, Cineflix Studios. "Steve, John, and Delphine are perfectly suited to meet this challenge."

The series is created by Tom Fontana (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Streets, St. Elsewhere) and Will Rokos (Monster's Ball, Southland). Among the co-executive producers on the series are Fontana, Rokos, Barry Levinson (Good Morning, Vietnam, Rain Man, You Don't Know Jack) and Christina Wayne, President of Cineflix Studios (Broken Trail and executive in charge of Mad Men at AMC).

The series premieres on BBC AMERICA in the summer of 2012 and in Canada on Shaw Media's Showcase in fall 2012.

About BBC AMERICA

BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including an Emmy, four Golden Globes and ten Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable's most affluent and educated audiences and is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 73 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.bbcamerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist.

About Shaw Communications Inc.

Shaw is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 18 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, History Television and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

About Cineflix Studios

Cineflix Studios combines global broadcast and production partners, major talent, and key executives to develop and produce high quality scripted programming for cable and broadcast in the US, Canada and around the world. Cineflix Studios has offices in New York, Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles and is a division of the international production and distribution company Cineflix Media.

About Cineflix Media Inc.

Cineflix Media Inc. is a leading international media company that brings together global broadcast and production partners, major talent, and key executives to create top quality original content produced and distributed for television and other platforms. Producing more than 400 hours per year of multi-genre television for international broadcasters, and with a rapidly expanding library of 2500 hours, Cineflix Media is a recognized leader with offices in Montreal, Toronto, London, New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Dublin.

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