Katie Mcgrath and Nonso Anozie cast alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers in NBC and Sky Living HD’s ‘Dracula’
London, January 31, 2013 Sky Living HD and NBC announced today that Katie McGrath (Merlin) and Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones) will join Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“The Tudors”) as series regulars in the much anticipated new drama series “Dracula” coming to Sky Living HD later this year.
McGrath will play Lucy Westenra, aristocratic London’s sexy, social butterfly who has a penchant for gossip, flirting and all things glamorous. A best friend to Dracula’s muse, Mina Murray (played by Jessica De Gouw), Lucy gradually becomes entwined in a web of lies, lust and temptation that challenges the boundaries of their relationship. McGrath recently completed her series regular role of Morgana on BBC’s hit television show, “Merlin.”
Nonso Anozie has been cast as R.M. Renfield, Alan Grayson’s (Dracula - Jonathan Rhys Meyers) fiercely loyal confidante. Renfield is the keeper of Dracula’s deepest and darkest secrets and the stabilizing force that allows his two personas to successfully coexist. Anozie has guest starred on the critically acclaimed, “Game of Thrones,” and recently had a supporting role in Liam Neeson’s feature film, “The Grey.”
The 10-episode series re-introduces Dracula as he arrives in London, posing as an American entrepreneur who maintains that he wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. In reality, he hopes to wreak revenge on the people who ruined his life centuries earlier. There's only one circumstance that can potentially thwart his plan: he’s fallen hopelessly in love with a woman who appears to be the reincarnation of his dead wife (Jessica De Gouw as “Mina.”)
Based on a script by co-executive producer Cole Haddon, “Dracula” will be executive-produced by former president of HBO Films and Emmy winner Colin Callender (“The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby”) for Playground, Tony Krantz (“24”, “Sports Night”) for Flame Ventures, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Gareth Neame ("Downton Abbey") for Carnival Films (a division of NBCUniversal International Television Production), Dan Knauf (“Carnivale”), and Universal Television. The Commissioning Editor for Sky is Anne Mensah, Head of Drama, Sky.
“Dracula” is the latest in a series of co-productions embarked on by Sky, with previous projects including “Treasure Island,” “Strike Back” and “The Tunnel” with Canal+. Sky has previously signaled its commitment to original production by increasing its investment in original British content by 50 per cent over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year on home grown content across its portfolio of channels.
Additional casting and production details will be announced at a later date.
Notes to editor
For further information please contact:
Katharine Ware, Head of PR Sky Living
T: 0207 032 0674
M: 07824 824754
E: Katharine.Ware@bskyb.com
About Sky Living HD:
Sky Living HD is one of the U.K.’s ultimate entertainment destinations on TV, bringing customers the highest quality U.K. and U.S. productions.
Hugely successful commissions including “Bedlam,” “Love Machine” and “Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model,” hosted by global icon Elle Macpherson and now in its eighth season, have emerged as some of the U.K.’s most talked-about programs.
Sky Living HD begins a new journey from August with the launch of several strong, aspirational, female-facing programs - including Rihanna’s new show “Styled to Rock,” an brand new season of “Mount Pleasant,” new comedy “Gates,” script-edited by Jennifer Saunders and starring Sue Johnston, Joanna Page and Tom Ellis, as well as “The Spa” -- a new comedy from Derren Litten, the creator of “Benidorm,” coming later in the year.
Sky Living HD has also built a reputation for identifying and bringing its customers the best U.S. shows including; “Bones,” “Cougar Town,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Unforgettable,” “Supernatural,” “Criminal Minds” and “America’s Next Top Model.” And this autumn will see one of the most talked-about new U.S. shows join this already amazing lineup as “Elementary,” starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu, comes to Sky Living.
Sky Living HD's is available at channel 107 cementing its place in Sky’s strengthened entertainment line-up, on the front page of the Sky EPG.
Rachel Tate
Publicist, Sky Living & Sky 1
0207 032 6481
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