AT&T AUDIENCE Network Announces Second Season Pickup of Critically Acclaimed Original Series "Mr. Mercedes"

Season 2 To Be Adapted From Stephen King's Acclaimed Trilogy, To Be Written By David E. Kelley and Directed by Jack Bender

10 One-Hour Episodes To Premiere in 2018

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 10, 2017 - Leading up to the highly anticipated season finale tomorrow, Oct. 11 at 8pm ET/PT, AUDIENCE Network is pleased to announce that it has picked up this year's break out show, "Mr. Mercedes," for a second season. Production for the 10 one-hour episodes is scheduled to begin in February of 2018 in Charleston, South Carolina with the premiere launching later in the year. The series is produced by Sonar Entertainment.

Returning for the second season will be television veterans David E. Kelley (Big Little LIes, Ally McBeal) to write the script and Jack Bender (Lost, Under the Dome) as director. King, Kelley and Bender will also continue to serve as executive producers, along with Dennis Lehane, who will also write. The second season will be based on King's best-selling Bill Hodges Trilogy, which includes, "Mr. Mercedes," "Finders Keepers" and "End of Watch."

"I'm excited and thrilled," said Kelley. "Stephen King, Dennis Lehane, Jack Bender, Brendan Gleeson... this is a special team indeed."

"Mr. Mercedes is Stephen King writing about the monsters inside his characters rather than outside," said Bender. "We were extremely fortunate to attract an amazing cast, led by Brendan Gleeson and Harry Treadaway, to bring these flawed, complex colorful characters to life. With Sonar and AT&T, along with great scripts and our talented team in Charleston, I am thrilled to keep telling this story."

"We're thrilled that the first installment of 'Mr. Mercedes' resonated with such a wide audience," said Christopher Long, head of AT&T AUDIENCE Network. "David E. Kelley, Jack Bender, Dennis Lehane, and Sonar did a masterful job crafting a series that honored the original work by Stephen King. We're excited to have the opportunity to create a second season with this incredible team."

"AT&T AUDIENCE Network has been a great home for the series and we are thrilled to be moving forward with the entire creative team returning," added Tom Lesinski, CEO, Sonar Entertainment. "We can't wait to get back into production and deliver another outstanding season."

Season 1 of "Mr. Mercedes" followed a demented killer Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway) who taunts a retired police detective Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson) with a series of lurid letters and emails, forcing the ex-cop to undertake a private, and potentially felonious, crusade to bring the killer to justice before he is able to strike again.

Stephen King describes "Mr. Mercedes" as his first hard-boiled detective tale. The novel was published by Scribner in June 2014 and became an immediate No. 1 New York Times Bestseller upon its release. Shortly after the release of the novel, King announced that "Mr. Mercedes" was the first of a projected trilogy. The second novel, "Finders Keepers," was published by Scribner in June 2015, and the third novel, "End of Watch," was published by Scribner in June 2016.

"Mr. Mercedes" season 1 episodes are available OnDemand on DIRECTV and U-verse platforms to DirecTV and U-verse customers. AT&T AUDIENCE Network is available on DIRECTV Ch. 239 or U-verse TV Ch. 1114 and via live streaming on the DIRECTV and U-verse apps and DIRECTV NOW.

About AT&T AUDIENCE Network

Always Original. Always Bold. Never Ordinary. AT&T AUDIENCE Network brings fresh, provocative content exclusively to DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse and DIRECTV NOW customers. It's committed to pushing the envelope with a growing slate of critically acclaimed original series.

Its latest lineup includes an adaptation of Stephen King's "Mr. Mercedes" and upcoming political thriller "Condor." New original comedies include "Hit The Road" and "Loudermilk." It's also home to the industry-first polyamorous romcom "You Me Her" and the MMA drama "Kingdom." AT&T AUDIENCE Network brings viewers real drama with its original documentaries "The Volunteers" and "The Sign" and intimate celebrity interviews on "Off Camera with Sam Jones." "The Dan Patrick Show" and "The Rich Eisen Show" offer sports fans live, daily news from renowned sports journalists. And "Undeniable with Joe Buck" puts viewers front row for in-depth chats with sports icons like Derek Jeter and Michael Phelps. Plus, music fans can see exclusive concerts by today's hottest artists on AUDIENCE Music. It's original entertainment you won't see anywhere else.

*About AT&T

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**Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score. Score includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q1 + Q2 2017 across 121 markets.

About Sonar Entertainment

Sonar Entertainment is a leading independent entertainment studio that develops, produces, finances and distributes content for global audiences. We offer a unique platform for creative talent with the support of a full-service studio and global distribution company. Our financial strength and independence provides us with the freedom to fund development and productions on a global scale and partner with the most innovative storytellers in the industry. Sonar Entertainment has exclusive first look deals with George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures, Robert and Susan Downey's Team Downey and Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions.

Sonar Entertainment's premium scripted series on-air, in production or slated to commence production include Mr. Mercedes, written by David E. Kelley, based on the novel by Stephen King, with the AT&T AUDIENCE Network for DIRECTV and AT&T U�-verse; The Son, starring Pierce Brosnan for AMC; Seasons One and Two of internationally successful The Shannara Chronicles, for Spike; and Das Boot, an eight�-part series based on the acclaimed movie, for Sky. Sonar Entertainment also distributes internationally, outside the UK, Taboo, for FX and BBC One, starring Tom Hardy and executive produced by Ridley Scott. Sonar Entertainment factual and lifestyle series currently on air or in production include Texas Metal for Discovery and Food's Greatest Hits for Scripps. Sonar Kids and Family series on-air or in production include Counterfeit Cat, airing on Disney XD in the US, Teletoon in Canada, on Hulu and in over 200 countries worldwide; and Go Away, Unicorn! for Disney.

In addition, Sonar Entertainment distributes over 1,000 titles comprised of award�-winning programs from RHI Entertainment, Hallmark Entertainment, and Tricon Films & Television.