E! SETS PREMIERE FOR FIRST SCRIPTED DRAMA SERIES "THE ROYALS" FOR MARCH 15TH AT 10PM ET

The Ten Episode, Hour-Long Original Drama Created By Mark Schwahn Stars Elizabeth Hurley, William Moseley, Alexandra Park, and Vincent Regan As The Devious Family At The Helm Of The Series' Corrupt Monarchy

LOS ANGELES - December 4, 2014 - Love, hate, lust and revenge will be taken to a delightfully decadent new level when E! premieres the network's first scripted series, "The Royals," on Sunday, March 15that 10pm ET. The 60-minute drama series depicts the lives of a fictional monarchy in modern times where power is everything, limits do not exist, and trust is a luxury this family can't afford. Leading the stellar cast are Elizabeth Hurley and Vincent Regan as Queen Helena and King Simon, along with William Moseley as Prince Liam and Alexandra Park as Princess Eleanor. The internationally esteemed ensemble adding anarchy in the monarchy are Merritt Patterson, Jake Maskall, Ukweli Roach, Tom Austen, Sophie Colquhoun, and Oliver Milburn. The legendary Joan Collins will also guest star as the Grand Duchess of Oxford. "The Royals" is produced by Lionsgate, executive produced, written and directed by Mark Schwahn ("One Tree Hill"), and executive produced by Brian Robbins, Joe Davola ("One Tree Hill," "Smallville"), and Shauna Phelan.

Behind the luxurious gates of the Royal family lies more scandal than one can imagine. Helena (Hurley), the polished, poised, and fierce Queen, poses to the public that her family is one of class and grace. Her sole daughter, Eleanor (Park), however, tries her best to keep the Queen on her toes as her rebellious nature puts the family's reputation on the brink of crumbling as the tabloids document her unprincess-like behavior which includes sex, drugs, and hung-over helicopter rides. While secretly longing for a more meaningful existence in her limitless world, the heiress still parties like only a princess can. King Simon (Reagan), at the helm of the monarchy, works to keep his family afloat, but when tainted politics and dangerous relationships are involved, chaos and turmoil threaten to uproot the family tree. Meanwhile, Eleanor's twin brother, Prince Liam (Moseley), is a playboy prince with the keys to the kingdom. Literally. He takes full advantage of being one of the most sought after bachelors on the planet without the scrutiny his older brother Robert, the beloved heir to the throne, endures. All of that changes, however when Robert tragically passes away and Liam, the spare, becomes heir. As a member of the Royal family, destiny chooses you. You do not choose your destiny.

Keeping the family out of the limelight is in the hands of the Royals' entrusted security team. Liam's hunger for a different life keeps his bodyguard and confidant Marcus (Roach) hard at work especially when he runs off with his best mate Ashok (Manpreet Bachu). Jasper (Austen) is Princess Eleanor's new bodyguard who is delegated to protect her not only from harm outside the castle walls, but also from the unruly Princess herself. Jasper's charming and demure nature juxtaposed against his brooding good-looks hint that there is something far more calculating going on behind his baby blue eyes. As head of the security for the Royals, Ted (Milburn) is committed to keeping his own personal life discrete, but when Prince Liam falls for his daughter Ophelia (Patterson) his private and professional life start to merge.

To make matters more complicated, Liam's socialite ex-girlfriend Gemma (Colquhoun) returns upon news of Prince Robert's untimely death, and is relentless in her attempt to win Liam back from Ophelia. As the heiress of a diamond cartel, Gemma is refined, manipulative, and very clear about her desire to be on Liam's arm when he is crowned King. Elsewhere in the palace, Cyrus (Maskall), brother of King Simon, is lurking for a chance to steal the throne by doing anything, in his limited power, to take down the heirs one-by-one. While his power is restricted, his lack of a moral compass is not, even when it comes to his sexuality, jealousy and enlisting his dimwitted daughters Maribel (Hatty Preston) and Penelope (Lydia Rose Bewley) to do his bidding. Although born into fame, money, and power, only one can be King.

All is fair in love and royalty.

"The Royals" premieres Sunday, March 15that 10pm ET on E!

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About E! Entertainment

E! is the only global, multiplatform brand for all things pop culture. The network is currently available to 98 million cable and satellite subscribers in the U.S. Eonline delivers breaking entertainment news and in-depth coverage on television, movies, music, celebrities, fashion, beauty and lifestyle. One of the fastest-growing, most influential digital properties, Eonline is a leader in online video and mobile and a leading entertainment brand across social. Popular E! programming includes core franchises, "E! News," "The Soup," "Fashion Police" and "True Hollywood Story," as well as the network's popular series "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," "Total Divas," "#RichKids of Beverly Hills" and "Botched." Additionally, E!'s "Live from the Red Carpet" signature events keep fans connected to their favorite stars on pop culture's biggest nights. E! is a network of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company currently has over 30 television shows on more than 20 networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, the comedy Anger Management, the network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show and the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black.