Amazon Adds Dramatic Thriller "Hysteria" to Its Third Pilot Season

Amazon Studios collaborates with Universal Television and Alcon Television Group for an hour-long character-driven thriller from Shaun Cassidy (Invasion) starring Mena Suvari (American Beauty), James McDaniel (Orange Is The New Black), Josh Stewart (The Dark Knight Rises), Adan Canto (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Laura San Giacomo (Saving Grace) and T.R. Knight (Grey's Anatomy)

Hysteria joins The Cosmopolitans, Really and Hand of God for Amazon's highly-anticipated third pilot season, which will debut later this year on Amazon Instant Video

SEATTLE -- Jul. 1, 2014 -- (NASDAQ: AMZN) -- Amazon today announced it has added the hour-long dramatic thriller Hysteria, from Amazon Studios, Universal Television and Alcon Television Group, to its third pilot season, which will debut later this year on Amazon Instant Video. Starring Mena Suvari (American Beauty) as "Dr. Logan Harlen," James McDaniel (Orange Is The New Black) as "Carl Sapsi," Josh Stewart (The Dark Knight Rises) as "Ray Ratajeck," Adan Canto (X-Men: Days of Future Past) as "Matt Sanchez," Laura San Giacomo (Saving Grace) as "Grace Pelayo" and T.R. Knight (Grey's Anatomy) as "Carter Harlen," Hysteria follows a doctor (Suvari) who returns to her hometown of Austin, Texas to investigate a growing epidemic that appears to be spreading through social media. The show is written by Shaun Cassidy who also serves as Executive Producer alongside Adam Schroeder, Sharon Hall, Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Bryan Zuriff, and Director Otto Bathurst. Customers will once again be invited to watch and provide feedback on the pilots they want to see turned into full series, which will then become available on Prime Instant Video.

"We're very excited to be collaborating with Universal Television and Alcon Television Group to bring Hysteria to life for viewers," said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. "Shaun is known for creating shows with layers of mystery, depth of character and topical themes. His script immediately hooked us and we can't wait to hear what customers think."

"I can think of no better platform than Amazon to tell a story that explores the price of fear and the very real threat of viral connection becoming contagion," said Shaun Cassidy.

Directed by Bathurst, who recently won the BAFTA for his work on the critically acclaimed U.K. mini-series Peaky Blinders, Hysteria takes viewers to Austin where members of a girls' competitive dance team are stricken with a strange, psycho-physiological illness that manifests in violent fits and spasms. Neurologist Logan Harlen (Suvari) is called back to her hometown to investigate the cause. Fighting her own demons (and the growing manipulation of a brother on death row), Logan develops an uneasy suspicion that the hysteria surrounding the girls might actually be linked to social media and her own tragic past. In addition to Suvari, McDaniel, Stewart, Canto, San Giacomo and Knight, Hysteria also stars, Ella Rae Peck and Jenessa Grant. Guest stars include Jason Douglas, Heather Kafka, Asjha Cooper, and Evie Thompson.

About Amazon Studios

Last year Amazon Studios launched its first two prime time series Alpha House and Betas, and recently debuted its first two children's series, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival Award-winning Tumble Leaf from Bix Pix Entertainment, as well as Creative Galaxy from Angela Santomero, the creator of Blue's Clues. A third kids' series, Annedroids, from Emmy nominated Sinking Ship Entertainment will debut in July. Amazon Studios recently announced six additional, original series including Chris Carter's The After; Michael Connelly's Bosch; Jill Soloway's Transparent; Mozart in the Jungle from Paul Weitz, Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman; Wishenpoof! from Angela Santomero; and Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street from David Anaxagoras, as well as a second season of Alpha House. Amazon Original Series are available exclusively to Prime members through Prime Instant Video.

Amazon Studios launched in 2010 as a new way to develop feature films and episodic series--one that's open to great ideas from creators and audiences around the world. Anyone can upload a script and Amazon Studios will read and review all submissions. Those who choose to make their projects public will also receive feedback from the Amazon Studios community.

Comprehensive cast and crew information, including bios and filmographies, is available on Amazon's IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.

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