A&E NETWORK'S NEW SCRIPTED DRAMA SERIES "LONGMIRE" TO PREMIERE SUMMER 2012

HOUR-LONG SERIES STARRING ROBERT TAYLOR, KATEE SACKHOFF, LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS AND BAILEY CHASE WILL BEGIN PRODUCTION IN MARCH 2012

PASADENA, CA - January 13, 2012 - A&E Network will begin production on the new hour-long original scripted drama series, "Longmire" in March 2012 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The network has ordered 10 episodes of the contemporary crime thriller set in Big Sky country from Warner Horizon Television. "Longmire" is scheduled to premiere on A&E in summer 2012.

Based on the Walt Longmire Mystery novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson, "Longmire" stars Australian actor Robert Taylor (The Matrix) as Walt Longmire, the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. "Longmire" also stars Katee Sackhoff ("Battlestar Gallactica"), Lou Diamond Phillips ("Numb3rs"), Bailey Chase ("Damages"), Cassidy Freeman ("Smallville") and newcomer Adam Bartley.

Widowed only a year, Longmire is man in psychic repair that buries his pain behind a brave face and dry wit. Struggling since his wife's death and at the urging of his daughter, Cady (Freeman), Longmire knows that the time has come to turn his life around. With the help of Vic (Sackhoff), a female deputy new to the department, he becomes reinvigorated about his job and committed to running for re-election. When Branch (Chase), an ambitious, young deputy decides to run against him for sheriff, Longmire feels betrayed but remains steadfast in his dedication to the community. Longmire often turns to close friend and confidant Henry Standing Bear (Diamond Phillips) for support as he sets out to rebuild both his personal and professional life, one step at a time.

"Longmire" is produced by Warner Horizon Television. Hunt Baldwin ("The Closer," "Trust Me") and John Coveny ("The Closer," "Trust Me") wrote the project and serve as executive producers along with Greer Shephard ("The Closer," "Nip/Tuck") and Michael M. Robin ("The Closer," "Nip/Tuck"). Christopher Chulack ("Southland," "ER") served as director and executive producer of the pilot.

About A&E Network

A&E is "Real Life. Drama." Now reaching 99 million homes, A&E is television that you can't turn away from; where unscripted shows are dramatic and scripted dramas are authentic. A&E offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment ranging from the network's original scripted series, including "The Glades" and "Breakout Kings," to signature non-fiction franchises, including the Emmy-winning "Intervention," "Dog the Bounty Hunter," "Hoarders," "Billy the Exterminator" and "Storage Wars," and the most successful justice shows on cable, including "The First 48." The A&E website is located at www.aetv.com.