SundanceTV Teams up with Zodiak on "Rebellion"

Zodiak Rights Announces SundanceTV as Co-Production Partner with Touchpaper TV on RTÉ Series Rebellion

Zodiak Rights today announced U.S. network SundanceTV as its co-production partner on RTÉ drama Rebellion, a five-part serial charting the birth of modern Ireland during one of the most disruptive and terrifying periods in history.

Rebellion begins with the outbreak of World War I. As expectations of a short and glorious campaign are dashed, social stability is eroded and Irish nationalism comes to the fore. The tumultuous events that follow are seen through the eyes of three young women and their families, lovers and friends from Belfast, Dublin and London as they play vital and conflicting roles in the narrative of Ireland's independence. Some prioritise family loyalties; some are motivated by the noblest of ideals or opportunism; while others take up arms, prepared to sacrifice everything for the dream of a better society.

Rebellion heads up Zodiak Rights' scripted slate at MIPCOM 2015 with cast members Brian Gleeson and Ruth Bradley attending the market. The powerful drama is produced by Touchpaper Television and Zodiak Media Ireland for RTÉ, in co-production with SundanceTV, and is written by Colin Teevan, directed by Aku Louhimies, and produced by Catherine Magee.

"Rebellion is a compelling drama rich with complex and inspiring characters, whose lives and homes are in the direst state of upheaval," said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. "Sharing this story about the history of Ireland and its people is so important to SundanceTV not only because it underscores our commitment to showcasing unique voices from around the globe, but also because we believe the struggles and triumphs seen throughout the series will resonate strongly with audiences today. We're looking forward to partnering with Zodiak and RTÉ on bringing Rebellion to life."

RTÉ Head of Television Drama Jane Gogan said: "Colin Teevan and the Zodiak team have brought to life this extraordinary story full of dreams and determination and, in some cases, sheer bewilderment and desperation to give us a drama set in an extraordinary period but with themes that carry striking contemporary resonance."

Rob Pursey, MD Touchpaper TV, added: "Colin's sharp script and our excellent cast combine to give a visceral sense of what it's like to be caught up in revolutionary events: the idealism, the passion, the fear and the cruelty. We are delighted to be bringing this very modern period drama to MIPCOM."

The star-studded cast includes Brian Gleeson (Snow White and the Huntsman, The Bachelor Weekend); Charlie Murphy (Philomena); Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones); Ruth Bradley (Humans, Best Actress IFTA for Grabbers) and Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful, Tony nominated for The Cripple of Inishmaan). The executive producers are Rob Pursey, Jane Gogan, Christian Vesper, Colin Teevan, David Crean and Clare Alan.

Rebellion will air on SundanceTV and RTÉ One in early 2016, and is funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television Licence fee.

About Zodiak Media:

Zodiak Media is the leading independent in entertainment, factual, drama and kids, with over 45 production brands operating in 17 countries. Creating, producing, and selling content across all key genres and broadcast platforms, Zodiak Media owns major properties such as Millennium, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Wife Swap, The Secret Millionaire, The Inbetweeners, Totally Spies, Fort Boyard and Being Human. Zodiak Rights, the international rights business of Zodiak Media, boasts a growing catalogue of around 20,000 hours of content. Zodiak Rights represents both Zodiak Media programming and formats, and a substantial catalogue of third-party independent content. Zodiak Rights specialises in worldwide television and home entertainment distribution and all aspects of licensing, with highly experienced sales teams in London (non-scripted and kids) and Paris (drama, theatrical and comedy), offering a tailored service for producers with the benefit of scale. Headquartered in Paris and with other key offices in London, Los Angeles, Milan, Stockholm and Moscow, Zodiak Media, majority-owned by giant Italian conglomerate De Agostini, operates across the world as a leading independent studio combining creative flair with financial strength. For more information visit www.zodiakmedia.com Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

About SundanceTV

Since its launch in 1996, SundanceTV has remained true to founder Robert Redford's mission to celebrate creativity and distinctive storytelling through unique voices and narratives found in the best independent films. From delivering critically acclaimed Emmy(R), Golden Globe(R) and Peabody Award-winning television featuring some of the world's most talented creators and performers, to showcasing some of the most compelling and iconic films across genres and generations, SundanceTV is a smart and thought-provoking entertainment destination. SundanceTV is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.; its sister networks include AMC, IFC, BBC America and WEtv. SundanceTV is available across all platforms, including on-air, online at www.sundance.tv, on demand and mobile.