or


[10/06/17 - 03:41 PM]
Starz Casts Ella Purnell as "Tess" for Scripted Drama Series "Sweetbitter"
"Sweetbitter" follows 22-year-old Tess who, shortly after arriving in New York City, lands a job at a celebrated downtown restaurant.

[via press release from Starz]

STARZ CASTS ELLA PURNELL AS "TESS" FOR SCRIPTED DRAMA SERIES "SWEETBITTER"

Richard Shepard Joins as Executive Producer, Directing Series Premiere of Six-Episode First Season Based on Stephanie Danler's Best-Selling Novel

Beverly Hills, Calif. - October 6, 2017- Starz announced today that Ella Purnell (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Never Let Me Go, Kick-Ass 2, Maleficent) has been cast in the lead role of "Tess" for "Sweetbitter," the recently greenlit, straight-to-series drama for STARZ, based on Stephanie Danler's national best-selling novel.

Starz President of Programming Carmi Zlotnik, said "Ella's portfolio of work and the array of her characters and performances in her young career are truly remarkable. We are excited for fans of the book and audiences to meet 'Tess.' We are also excited by Richard's vision to bring the book's richly written sensory experiences from the page to the screen." Emmy

· and DGA Award winning writer/director, Richard Shepard, has also been named an executive producer for "Sweetbitter" and will direct the series premiere episode from the upcoming first season. Shepard's features include "The Matador" starring Pierce Brosnan and "Dom Hemingway" starring Jude Law. Shepard directed 12 episodes of the Golden Globe

· winning series "Girls," as well as the pilots for "Criminal Minds," "Ugly Betty," among many others. Shepard directed the Emmy

· nominated documentary I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale and recently sold his short film Tokyo Project starring Elisabeth Moss.

Starz ordered six half-hour episodes for the initial season of the scripted drama.

"Sweetbitter" follows 22-year-old Tess who, shortly after arriving in New York City, lands a job at a celebrated downtown restaurant. Swiftly introduced to the world of drugs, alcohol, love, lust, dive bars, and fine dining, she learns to navigate the chaotically alluring, yet punishing life she has stumbled upon. This is the story of a young woman's coming-of-age, set against the rich and grimy backdrop of exclusive restaurants, conjuring a nonstop and high-adrenaline world evoking the possibility, beauty, and fragility of being young and adrift.

Danler has written the script for the first episode. Stu Zicherman ("The Americans," "The Affair," "Six Degrees") joins Danler, and both will serve as executive producers along with Plan B Entertainment and Richard Shepard. Donna Bloom will serve as producer on the six-episode freshman season. Laura Rosenthal is currently leading the ongoing casting search.

Starz retains all global distribution and home entertainment rights to the series.

Senior Vice President of Original Programming Ken Segna, Vice President of Original Programming Patrick McDonald and Senior Coordinator of Original Programming Samantha Offsay are the Starz executives in charge of "Sweetbitter."

About Starz

Starz (www.starz.com) a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), is a leading global media and entertainment company that provides premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks and produces and distributes content for worldwide audiences, including its investment in the STARZ PLAY Arabia OTT service. Starz is home to the flagship STARZ(R) brand and STARZ ENCORE channels and provides high-quality, entertaining premium subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels and associated on-demand and online services, including the STARZ app. Sold through U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and digital platforms, Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films every year and up to 1,500 every month, including STARZ Original series, first-run movies and other popular movie and television programming.





  [october 2017]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SWEETBITTER (STARZ)





[07/09/25 - 12:00 PM]
HBO Max Orders "The Big Bang Theory" Spinoff "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe" to Series
Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.

[07/09/25 - 10:31 AM]
"Queer Eye" to Conclude with 10th and Final Season
The Fab Five (Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo, and Tan France) return for one last round of unforgettable makeovers and heartfelt transformations.

[07/09/25 - 10:02 AM]
Highly Anticipated "Wicked" Special Gets Nov. 6 Air Date on NBC and Peacock Ahead of the Nov. 21 Theatrical Release of "Wicked: For Good"
Previously announced at the NBCU Upfront presentation, Academy Award-nominated stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will lead a one-time-only two-hour "Wicked" special event at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

[07/09/25 - 09:02 AM]
Paramount+ Returns to San Diego with "The Lodge" Fan Experience and Other New Exclusive Brand Activations During Comic-Con International
New this year is the "Paramount+ Mountain Experience" convention floor booth featuring a towering mountain crane challenge, and an outdoor "Nerd Out" fan booth.

[07/09/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: "Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Slaying solo travel like only Tracee can!

[07/09/25 - 09:00 AM]
New OWN Docuseries "Heart & Hustle: Houston" Premieres August 2, Spotlighting a Powerful Sisterhood of Black Women
These women are redefining what it means to be a boss, a wife and a mother while navigating entrepreneurial life plus a labyrinth of unique daily challenges.

[07/09/25 - 08:37 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer, Key Art, and New Images for Season 2 of "Twisted Metal"
The new season premieres on Peacock with three episodes on July 31, followed by new episodes every Thursday through August 28.

[07/09/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Long Story Short" - Official Teaser - Netflix
From the creator of "BoJack Horseman," a comedy for anyone who has ever loved or hated their family.

[07/09/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes" - Official Trailer - Netflix
One of the greatest manhunts in New York City history comes to life in this gripping three-part series.

[07/09/25 - 07:04 AM]
ESPN Original Series "Running with the Wolves" to Premiere July 29 on ESPN and ESPN+
The four-part docuseries follows daytime television icons Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa as they dive headfirst into the high-stakes world of Italian football - not as spectators, but as team owners.

[07/09/25 - 07:00 AM]
Video: "The Amateur" - Coming Soon - Hulu
Starring Rami Malek, Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan, and Jon Bernthal, the film streams July 17 only on Hulu.

[07/09/25 - 07:00 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Unveils Gripping Teaser for Season Four of "The Morning Show"
The 10-episode fourth season will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, September 17 with the first episode, followed by one episode weekly until November 19.

[07/09/25 - 06:02 AM]
GameTV/Paramount+ in Canada Miniseries "Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story" Taps Andrew "King Bach" Bachelor, Mark McKinney, Karen Robinson and Ennis Esmer to Join Cast
The six-episode series is Canadian sprinter Johnson's definitely-not-biased account of the doping controversy that rocked the 1988 Olympics when he tested positive for banned steroid use.

[07/09/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Wednesday" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Nevermore is back in session as Wednesday tangles with a new principal, a devious campus stalker and a waning grip on her psychic powers.

[07/09/25 - 03:00 AM]
HBO Max Is Back
It's good to be Home.