Mark Strong Returns to TV with AMC's Low Winter Sun

[Shifty]

Deadline:

Mark Strong, who starred in the 2006 British miniseries Low Winter Sun, is in negotiations to reprise his role in AMC‘s U.S. adaptation. James Ransone is set to co-star in the drama pilot, a co-production between Endemol Studios and AMC Studios.

Written/executive produced by Chris Mundy (Criminal Minds), the AMC project is described as a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption that starts with the murder of a cop by fellow Detroit detective Frank Agnew (Strong). Seemingly the perfect crime, in reality the murder activates forces that will forever alter that detective’s life and pull him into the heart of the Detroit underworld. Ransone will play Damon Callis, a member of the Detroit organized crime syndicate.

Strong drew critical praise for playing Frank Agnew in the 2006 two-part mini (photo above), in which Frank was one of two cops who murder a fellow officer. He will next be seen in Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty. Ransone, repped by UTA and Management 360, will next be seen in the features Broken City and Empire State.

Jericho alum Lennie James, who memorably played a fellow survivor of Rick’s in the Walking Dead pilot, is returning to the AMC fold in the network’s drama pilot Low Winter Sun.

Ruben Santiago Hudson and Athena Karkanis (Transporter) have been cast in the AMC drama pilot Low Winter Sun. Ernest Dickerson (The Walking Dead) is in negotiations to direct the pilot, based on the 2006 British miniseries.

Hudson, repped by Gersh and Vincent Cirrincione Assoc., will play Lt. George Torrance, the commander of Frank’s precinct, a 25-year veteran of the force who has, thus far, survived the down and dirty arena of Detroit crime and politics. Karkanis, repped by Greene & Assoc. and Sanders Armstrong Caserta, will play Dani Kahlil, a beautiful and highly intelligent detective who is a “bright light” on the force. They also join recently cast James Ransone.

This marks the first pilot directing gig for Dickerson, who first made his name as a cinematographer, frequently teaming with director Spike Lee on films such as Malcolm X, Do The Right Thing, and Jungle Fever. In recent years, he has collaborated with David Simon as a recurring director on The Wire and Treme for HBO. He regularly directs Dexter for Showtime and AMC’s The Walking Dead, including last year’s season finale. He is with Verve and Untitled Entertainment.

24 alumna Sprague Grayden and David Costabile will co-star opposite Mark Strong, Lennie James and James Ransone in the AMC drama pilot Low Winter Sun. Ernest Dickerson is directing the pilot, from Endemol Studios and AMC Studios.

Grayden, repped by AKA Talent Agency and Untitled Entertainment, will play the fierce and ruthless Elena, Damon’s (Ransone) wife who wants to extend the family’s crime networks. She has an upcoming arc on USA’s White Collar.

Costabile, repped by Innovative and Gartner/Green, will play David Westwood, an upright investigator from Internal Affairs who shows up and causes quite a stir among the officers. This marks a return to AMC for Costabile who had a memorable arc on the network’s Breaking Bad. He just finished a season-long arc on USA’s Suits as well as roles in Steven Soderbergh’s The Biter Pill and New Regency’s Runner Runner. He will next be seen in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln.

It must be a great script if Strong would want to return for the American adaptation set in Detroit (Edinburgh, Scotland for the 2006 mini-series) as I'm sure other networks would want him for their pilots.

Lennie James always delivers and enjoyable to watch. Ernest Dickerson seems like the right director for the pilot.

David Costabile has been terrific over the past few years with recurring roles on The Wire, Damages, Breaking Bad and Suits. Fantastic to see him be part of a cast, joining an already a strong cast. With who they have assembled for the pilot, it has a great chance at getting picked up for 2013.

 

[Hunter Rider]

President Taylor's daughter! This sounds like it could fill the void left by The Killing.

 

[nite-owl]

I watched the original yesterday and I can definitely see parts that they can expand on in the remake.

 

[Sawyer]

Maybe this will succeed for AMC where The Killing failed.

 

[Shifty]

I'm sure AMC has learned their lesson. Doesn't stop them from making new mistakes. The showrunner did well at Criminal Minds it seems. He did co-create the spinoff which was canceled but he was at least involved so it's not like he's a rookie.

 

[Sawyer]

Picked Up to Series

 

[Shifty]

Awesome. This joins my long list of anticipated 2013 dramas. Hopefully it is paired with Breaking Bad this summer as their reality shows have now moved to Thursdays. Or perhaps its saved for the fall with The Walking Dead. Why not give the show 10 million viewers as a lead in.

 

[Sawyer]

I'd bet on it being paired with BB. This presumably shares no characteristics with The Walking Dead, so the dropoff would probably be massive. If they ever pair TWD with a scripted show, it'll have to be something genre.

 

[Shifty]

I'd bet on it being paired with BB. This presumably shares no characteristics with The Walking Dead, so the dropoff would probably be massive. If they ever pair TWD with a scripted show, it'll have to be something genre.

They aired Hell on Wheels after TWD for four weeks. While there was a drop off, AMC had the top two Sunday night dramas in viewers and demo each time they aired together. The second season had no lead in and took a drop in viewership. That was when TWD was bringing in just over 6 million viewers. The massive drop in viewership happened with the hour long Comic Book Men.

I think a network like AMC still has to try and use TWD to launch other dramas or even comedies. Their first season of Low Winter Sun and future dramas can air after TWD and then can find new spots on the calendar for their second season once Breaking Bad and Mad Men end.

The three scripts they have in development Area 51, Rights of Bill and Thief of Thieves would be great pairings with TWD and easy sells.

They'll probably pair Turn, their Culper Ring spy drama, in Feb/Mar 2014 with TWD since AMC will own that show too if it gets picked up. Since all their pilots at least get picked up, it will likely happen.

 

[Sawyer]

Trailer

 

[Hunter Rider]

Can't view it outside the US!

 

[Sawyer]

[YT]oTFKglwGwcY[/YT]

 

[Shifty]

Trailer cinches it, I'll be checking out the show this summer! Looks great!

Can't view it outside the US!

Then move to America. That's your country's copyright laws blocking it.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Then move to America. That's your country's copyright laws blocking it.

Not helpful, nor am I sure completely accurate.

[YT]oTFKglwGwcY[/YT]

My dude!

Looks intense, I'll definitely give this a try.

 

[Shifty]

Not helpful, nor am I sure completely accurate.

Well I know in Canada there are different copyright holders to American shows. CTV airs The Following so I wouldn't be able to watch any Following videos on Fox.com but on CTV.ca I can.

I can't watch any videos on The Daily Show's website, it directs me to the Comedy Network's website (Canada's comedy channel, which is mainly Comedy Central content). I used to be able to watch it from Canada but then the laws caught up to what was going on the internet.

AMC is available in Canada so I can watch all their videos.

 

[Shifty]

Breaking Bad is getting all the hype but this could be the surprise of the summer!

A Look at Low Winter Sun
[YT]UwzMTxrf41s[/YT]

Shooting in Detroit
[YT]OuRWhVjxvDI[/YT]

 

[Shifty]

It didn't knock it out of the park, it may have benefited with a 2 hour premiere or just not coming after Breaking Bad but they kept me interested for the whole episode, had enough twists to make it interesting. Great performances. Certainly the best pilot episode since House of Cards. Will definitely keep watching!

 

[HighFivingMF]

I'm in. But I'm calling it Detective Sinestro.

 

[Lantern Venom]

I'm in. But I'm calling it Detective Sinestro.

 

[ThreadPool]

I'm in. But I'm calling it Detective Sinestro.

Brilliant.
Count me in. Tons of 'Breaking Bad' fans (on twitter) complaining about the preview for the next ep playing during the premiere of LWS. Saying cancel it. TV programming 101. It was solid.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Brilliant.
Count me in. Tons of 'Breaking Bad' fans (on twitter) complaining about the preview for the next ep playing during the premiere of LWS. Saying cancel it. TV programming 101. It was solid.

I don't see the difference between that and the premiere of a movie trailer attached to a different movie. Except this one is as simple as not pushing a button. People are OK with needing to see a movie for the debut of a trailer, but it's ******** that they have to sit there for 20 more minutes to see a preview for the show. One that will be online within hours anyway.

 

[Wolfwood]

What'd you guys think? I really liked it, the manipulation going on was pretty obvious, but I'm sold on the concept and direction of the series. Mark Strong's character seems like an infusion of Dutch and Vic Mackey, which is a dangerous combination.

 

[ThreadPool]

I don't see the difference between that and the premiere of a movie trailer attached to a different movie. Except this one is as simple as not pushing a button. People are OK with needing to see a movie for the debut of a trailer, but it's ******** that they have to sit there for 20 more minutes to see a preview for the show. One that will be online within hours anyway.

Exactly! "Cancel it!" Dramatic much?

What'd you guys think? I really liked it, the manipulation going on was pretty obvious, but I'm sold on the concept and direction of the series. Mark Strong's character seems like an infusion of Dutch and Vic Mackey, which is a dangerous combination.

I'm intrigued. I'm hoping Geddes isn't as crooked as he seems. I can do without the criminal
side story.

 

[Zeus]

It wasnt a strong pilot episode, but the start to the Wire was not strong either. I'll see how this show plays out

 

[chamber-music]

Here is the original Channel 4 UK version trailer for comparison. The UK version was set in Scotland so Mark Strong had a Scottish accent in it

[YT]PNECc11I6v0[/YT]

I saw the UK version which was good although not as good as BBC corrupt/vigilante cop shows like Lennie James show Line Of Duty and Good Cop.