USA NETWORK ANNOUNCES SERIES PICK-UP FOR NEW DRAMA "MR. ROBOT"

From Universal Cable Productions, Project Starring Christian Slater ("The Adderall Diaries") and Rami Malek ("24") is From 'True Detective' Executive Producer Steve Golin

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - December 19, 2014 - USA Network announced its first series pick-up from its existing pilot slate for the 2015-2016 season with a 10-episode order for MR. ROBOT (WORKING TITLE). The intense hacker drama from Universal Cable Productions is from writer and executive producer Sam Esmail ("Comet") and executive producers Anonymous Content's Steve Golin ("True Detective") and Chad Hamilton ("Breakup at a Wedding"). The series stars Rami Malek ("24"), Christian Slater ("The Adderall Diaries"), Portia Doubleday ("Her"), Carly Chaikin ("Suburgatory") and Martin Wallstrom ("Simple Simon"). The pilot was directed by Niels Arden Oplev ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"). The series will shoot in New York.

"MR. ROBOT could not be more timely and relevant," said Chris McCumber, President of USA Network. "The creative team behind this series has done a brilliant job, taking viewers on a wild ride that leaves them wanting more. Rami gives a masterful performance as a hacker and unlikely hero, alongside Christian, who is perfectly cast as Mr. Robot."

"Sam's vision for MR ROBOT is terrific and transgressive, and Niels has given the show a breathtakingly original look," said Jeff Wachtel, President and Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.

MR. ROBOT is a contemporary and culturally resonant drama about a young programmer, Elliot (Malek), who suffers from a debilitating anti-social disorder and decides that he can only connect to people by hacking them. He wields his skills as a weapon to protect the people that he cares about. Elliot will find himself in the intersection between a cybersecurity firm he works for and the underworld organizations that are recruiting him to bring down corporate America. Slater stars in the title role of Mr. Robot, a mysterious anarchist who recruits Elliot into an underground hacker group.

MR. ROBOT was the first of five pilots announced by USA Network, followed by Carlton Cuse's ("Bates Motel") COLONY, starring Josh Holloway ("Lost") and Sarah Wayne Callies ("The Walking Dead"); Universal Cable Production's STANISTAN, starring Jennifer Carpenter ("Dexter"); QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, based on the international best seller "La Reina del Sur" starring Alice Braga ("City of God"), and the most recent pilot pick-up EVIL MEN, starring Dallas Roberts ("Dallas Buyers Club") and Clifton Collins Jr. ("Pacific Rim").

About USA Network:

The #1 network in all of basic cable for an unprecedented nine straight years, USA Network is seen in more than 102 million U.S. homes. USA offers a powerful stable of dramatic, comedic and unscripted originals. The network also features spectacular live television, a dynamic portfolio of acquired series and the best in blockbuster theatrical films and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com.

About Universal Cable Productions

Universal Cable Productions (UCP) creates innovative and critically acclaimed original scripted and digital content across media platforms for domestic and international distribution. UCP's content library spans classics such as Emmy-award winning, "Monk," and cult favorites "Psych," "Battlestar Galactica" and "Warehouse 13." In the U.S., UCP's programming can be seen across various networks including: "Covert Affairs," "Dig" (March 2015), "Playing House," "Royal Pains," "Satisfaction" and "Suits" on USA Network; "Ascension", "Defiance," "Dominion," and "12 Monkeys" (Jan. 2015) on Syfy; "Girlfriends' Guide To Divorce" on Bravo; "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome" on Machinima Prime/YouTube, Syfy and DVD/Blu-Ray; and "Side Effects" on Awesomeness TV/YouTube. Universal Cable Productions is a part of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. Follow us @UCPisTV.