Category: Showtime

MORE CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SHOWTIME DRAMA SERIES KING SHAKA

Posted on by Danielle Langer





MORE CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SHOWTIME DRAMA SERIES KING SHAKA
CHARMAINE BINGWA, NKEKI OBI-MELEKWE, TONY KGOROGE, SINDI DLATHU AND BAHLE HADEBE

JOIN SHOWTIME® DRAMA SERIES KING SHAKA

LOS ANGELES – September 29, 2022 –SHOWTIME announced today that Charmaine Bingwa (The Good Fight) and Nkeki Obi-Melekwe (Tina -The Tina Turner Musical) will star, and Tony Kgoroge (Invictus), Sindi Dlatu (The River) and Bahle Hadebe (Bone of My Bones) will guest star in the highly anticipated new series KING SHAKA, an epic drama centered around one man’s personal journey from stigmatized childhood to legendary king. The CBS Studios production will shoot in the historic KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Africa province, the birthplace of King Shaka, and will be fully shot in South Africa. The series is produced with Propagate and Hill District Media and will debut on SHOWTIME in 2023.

Bingwa stars as Isisa, a fierce and formidable warrior whose loyalty is thrown into question by a fateful encounter and Obi-Melekwe will star as the Locust Queen, the mysterious leader of a nomadic tribe of outcasts who uses her deep knowledge of the spiritual world to her advantage. Kgoroge is guest starring as Chief Senzangakhona, the proud leader of the Zulu people who denies Shaka’s birthright, Dlathu as Inyoni, a council leader and midwife, and Hadebe as young Shaka.

Bingwa stars in the Paramount+ series The Good Fight as Carmen Moyo and starred in the feature film Black Box. She will next be seen in KING SHAKA executive producer Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation. Additional credits include Trees of Peace, Little Sista and Nekrotronic. Obi-Melekwe earned acclaim in her Broadway debut as Tina Turner in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. She also appeared in the CBS series Bull and the SHOWTIME series SMILF.

Kgoroge starred most recently as police chief Khaya Meyer in the dark comedy series Recipes for Love and Murder. Additional credits include Imbewu: The Seed, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, Blood Diamond, Lord of War and Hotel Rwanda. Dlathu is best known for her work in the drama series The River as the villainous Lindiwe Dlamini and as Nomthandazo Buthelezi in Muvhango. She also worked alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the feature film Sarafina. Additional credits include Khululeka and Soul City. Hadebe started his career as a host on the series Yo, and later as a host on Epic Hangout. His credits include Deep State, Down the Zambezi, The Estate and Cash and Carry.

Rooted in actual events, KING SHAKA tells the story of the Zulu Empire founder Shaka (Charles Babalola) and his unlikely rise to power, uniting multiple tribes across vast stretches of Africa in the early 19th century to transform his power into legend, on par with history’s most seminal figures. The outcast son of a Zulu Chief, Shaka is a visionary who is prophesized to become a king like none before him. In ferocious battles that test the body and soul, in alliances that test the bonds of love and friendship, a complex sociological system plays out that renders the human cost front and center, for the victors as well as the vanquished, all in an effort to carve out a semblance of identity, fulfillment and ultimately, survival.

KING SHAKA is created and executive produced by Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika, and executive produced by Antoine Fuqua, Bridget Carpenter, Propagate’s Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Rodney Ferrell. Seith Mann, who is directing the pilot, and Spencer Medof are also executive producers. Scott Greenberg is a producer, and Michael Callas is producing for Hill District Media. Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube and Pepsi Pokane also produce.

As part of the production investment in South Africa and the KZN province, nearly 1,000 locals have been hired for jobs across all facets of the production, including cast, crew, performers and craftspeople. In addition, the production is working in concert with leading South African production services company Film Afrika to help facilitate filming in the region. They are also working closely with the KZN Film Commission and with career-building training programs such as SA Film Academy (SAFA) and the Academy of Creative Excellence to provide production internships and other opportunities.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go towww.SHO.com [sho.com].



Showtime Releases New Trailer for “The Lincoln Project”

Posted on by Danielle Langer





Video: Showtime Releases New Trailer for “The Lincoln Project,” An Inside Look at How Power and Money Shape Politics in America Today
All five episodes will also release on demand and on streaming platforms for Showtime subscribers on October 7.
[via press release from Showtime]
SHOWTIME(R) RELEASES NEW TRAILER FOR “THE LINCOLN PROJECT,” AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW POWER AND MONEY SHAPE POLITICS IN AMERICA TODAY

Five-Part Docuseries Will Premiere on Friday, October 7 at 8 PM ET/PT

LOS ANGELES – September 28, 2022 – SHOWTIME today released a new trailer for THE LINCOLN PROJECT, a five-part docuseries following the members of the Lincoln Project over the course of the 2020 election and its aftermath. The series will premiere on October 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and episodes will air back-to-back each Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. All five episodes will also release on demand and on streaming platforms for SHOWTIME subscribers on October 7. To watch and share the trailer, visit:

Directed by Fisher Stevens (Dirty Money, Before the Flood) and Karim Amer (The Vow, The Great Hack), THE LINCOLN PROJECT follows a veteran group of former GOP operatives and strategists known publicly as the Lincoln Project, the fastest-growing super PAC in America, as they take on the task of “saving democracy” and defeating their own party’s sitting president.

Celebrated for their scathing ads and biting social media commentary, the Lincoln Project is revealed in the series to be a lot more than what meets the eye, with sophisticated data analytics and voter targeting operations churning away behind the scenes. While working to accomplish their stated goal of “defeating Trumpism,” the group is shaken by internal upheaval, a sexual harassment scandal, and a tidal wave of negative press. As one fight ends, another is afoot – and this time it’s personal.

The series is produced for SHOWTIME by The Othrs in association with Bloomfish Productions and Impact Partners. Producers are Alexander Hyde, Mikaela Beardsley, Allison Berg, Judy Korin and Amy Redford. Executive producers are Karim Amer, Fisher Stevens, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Nina and David Fialkow, Lyn Davis Lear, Vijay Vaidyanathan and Jamie Wolf. Fremantle will distribute the series internationally.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME(R), which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV(R). For more information, go to www.SHO.com.



SHOWTIME DOCUMENTARY FILMS ANNOUNCES NEW DOCUMENTARY SERIES SPECTOR

Posted on by Danielle Langer





SHOWTIME® DOCUMENTARY FILMS ANNOUNCES NEW DOCUMENTARY SERIES SPECTOR
FROM DIRECTING TEAM OF DON ARGOTT AND SHEENA M. JOYCE

Oscar® Nominee Jonathan Chinn and Oscar Winners Simon Chinn and James Marsh
Will Executive Produce Four-Part Docuseries About Legendary Music Producer and Convicted Murderer Phil Spector

Premiering on Friday, November 4

Network Releases Official Trailer and Key Art

LOS ANGELES – September 27, 2022 – SHOWTIME Documentary Films announced today that the network will air SPECTOR, a four-part documentary series produced by Lightbox from directors Sheena M. Joyce and Don Argott (Framing John Delorean, Believer) about enigmatic, legendary music producer Phil Spector and what happened on the fateful night of February 3, 2003 when actress Lana Clarkson was shot dead in his mansion. All four episodes of the docuseries will release on demand and on streaming platforms for SHOWTIME subscribers on Friday, November 4, ahead of its on-air premiere on Sunday, November 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. SPECTOR is executive produced by Oscar-nominated producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, Tina) and Oscar-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man) and Oscar-winning director James Marsh (Man on Wire, The Night Of). Stephen Neely (Goodnight Oppy, Murder Mountain) also serves as executive producer and Janet Ginsburg produces. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

To watch and share the trailer, visit:

SPECTOR examines how the destinies of Phil Spector and Lana Clarkson became intertwined with the report of a fatal shooting of a woman at the eccentric French chateau style mansion in Los Angeles owned by the legendary music producer. The victim was Lana Clarkson, a charismatic and once prolific film actress whom he had met just that night. Through the lens of this notorious crime and the infamous trial which followed, this four-part documentary series peels back the layers of what actually happened that night to tell the stories of both Clarkson and the man who was convicted of her murder. In doing so, SPECTOR re-examines the life and career of an important yet enigmatic cultural figure of the 20th century – a man responsible for countless hit records, including “Be My Baby,” “Da Do Run Run” and “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” – and a bygone era of Hollywood and the music industry.

The score for SPECTOR was composed by Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds, Aja Volkman and Daniel Wayne Sermon.

Argott and Joyce together run 9.14 Pictures. Their recent projects include Framing John Delorean, a documentary feature about the winding, twisted tale of famed auto maverick John DeLorean, and the feature-length doc Believer, which follows Dan Reynolds, the lead singer of Imagine Dragons, as he challenges the Mormon Church’s stance on LGBTQ issues. Upcoming is the definitive feature documentary on heavy metal legend, Ronnie James Dio, called DIO Dreamers Never Die, and the recently released doc series The Bond, from Discovery+, that was executive produced by Susan Downey and Robert Downey, Jr.

James Marsh is an Oscar and BAFTA® -winning and Emmy-nominated director. His 2009 feature Man on Wire won the Best Documentary prize at the Academy Awards®, BAFTAs and Film Independent Spirit Awards, along with the Best Film Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival that year. Marsh was nominated for a Best Director Emmy for his work on the series The Night Of, and received a Best Director BAFTA nomination for The Theory of Everything, the feature film on scientist Stephen Hawking, which won the BAFTA for Best Picture in 2015.

Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn are co-founders of Lightbox, their production company based in Los Angeles and London. Their recent critically acclaimed series and theatrical releases include SUPERVILLAIN:THE MAKING OF TEKASHI 69, available to stream on SHOWTIME, alongside Tina, Whitney, The Princess, Sins of Our Mother and Curse of The Chippendales.

SPECTOR is produced by Lightbox for SHOWTIME, in association with Sky Documentaries. It is executive produced by Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn, James Marsh and Stephen Neely, together with Poppy Dixon and Jack Oliver for Sky. Fifth Season is handling rights outside of the UK and U.S.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.



SECOND SEASON OF ZIWE RETURNS WITH NEW EPISODES ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Posted on by Danielle Langer





SECOND SEASON OF ZIWE RETURNS WITH NEW EPISODES ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Late-Night Variety Series, Produced by A24, Returns For the Second Installment of Season Two with Six New Episodes

Featuring Guests Including Drew Barrymore, Julia Fox, Blake Griffin and Bob the Drag Queen

NEW YORK – September 21, 2022 – The second season of the critically acclaimed late-night variety series ZIWE, starring and executive produced by Ziwe (Dickinson, Succession, The Great North) will return to SHOWTIME with six new episodes starting Friday, November 18 on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers, before making its on-air debut on Sunday, November 20 at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The season will continue to drop new episodes every Friday via streaming and on-demand platforms before appearing on air Sunday night.

The second installment of episodes will feature Ziwe’s signature sit-down interviews with guests including Michael Che, Julia Fox, Amber Riley, Blake Griffin, Joel Kim Booster, Bob The Drag Queen, DeRay Mckesson, Drew Barrymore and Wayne Brady. ZIWE will also feature special guest appearances by Marie Faustin, Benito Skinner, Chloe Cherry, Aparna Nancherla, River L. Ramirez, AnnaSophia Robb, John Reynolds, Larry Owens, Amy Sedaris, Laura Benanti, Scott Adsit, Jackie Hoffman and Josh Sharpe along with musical performances by Ziwe, sketches and more – including unscripted and unpredictable interactions with everyday people.

Previously, Ziwe wrote for DESUS & MERO, OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT and Dickinson and rose to viral popularity with her groundbreaking and provocative Instagram Live series questioning cultural figures on race. She has also voiced Kamala Harris and other roles for OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT, as well as Tooning Out the News, and appears in her own Pop Show, which she created and performs at Brooklyn’s Union Hall with original pop songs off her album Generation Ziwe. Previous episodes of ZIWE included interviews with Phoebe Bridgers, Fran Lebowitz, Andrew Yang, Eboni K. Williams, Gloria Steinem, Stacey Abrams, Charlamagne Tha God, Chet Hanks, Emily Ratajkowski, Ilana Glazer, Hannibal Buress, Nicole Byer, Mia Kalifa, Adam Pally and Deux Moi. ZIWE is produced by A24 for SHOWTIME. In addition to Ziwe, Jo Firestone and Hunter Speese serve as executive producers.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.



THE CIRCUS RETURNS WITH AN EIGHT-WEEK SPRINT TO ELECTION DAY

Posted on by Danielle Langer





THE CIRCUS RETURNS WITH AN EIGHT-WEEK SPRINT TO ELECTION DAY
“Roe’s Revenge” Airs

Sunday, September 25 at 8 PM ET/PT on SHOWTIME®

Season Seven Returns This Fall with Eight New Episodes

NEW YORK – September 23, 2022 – The Emmy® nominated docuseries THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH kicks off the second half of its seventh season covering the unprecedented impact of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on the midterm elections.

Hosts John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, and Jennifer Palmieri crisscross the country examining how the elimination of the constitutional right to abortion, the law of the land for 50 years, is energizing voters and upending elections – from the stunning vote in Kansas this summer, to the battlegrounds of Michigan and North Carolina.

Episode includes:

Behind-the-scenes access with Vice President Kamala Harris as she heads to the critical swing state of Wisconsin to speak about the legal fight over reproductive rights.
Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, on how the ruling on abortion is impacting voters in her state.
Republican Pat McCrory, former governor of North Carolina, on how abortion has shaken up the razor-tight senate race in his state.
Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, former governor of Kansas, on the political reverberations still being felt from her state’s stunning vote to preserve abortion rights this summer.

THE CIRCUS is produced by Left/Right for SHOWTIME. John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Jennifer Palmieri, Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman, Tom Johnson and Divya Chungi serve as executive producers. To learn more about THE CIRCUS, go to: SHO.com, follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and join the conversation using #TheCircus.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.



SHOWTIME ANNOUNCES PREMIERE DATE FOR SEASON TWO OF YOUR HONOR

Posted on by Danielle Langer





SHOWTIME ANNOUNCES PREMIERE DATE FOR SEASON TWO OF YOUR HONOR
Series Starring Oscar® Nominee and Emmy® Winner Bryan Cranston
To Return on Non-Linear Platforms on Friday, December 9
And On Air on Sunday, December 11 at 9 PM ET/PT

Margo Martindale and Amy Landecker to Return as Guest Stars

LOS ANGELES – September 20, 2022 – SHOWTIME announced today that the second season of YOUR HONOR, starring and executive produced by Oscar® nominee and Emmy® winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) will return on Friday, December 9, available on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers, before making its on-air debut on Sunday, December 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Currently in production on the 10-episode second season, the series is executive produced by Emmy nominees Robert and Michelle King (The Good Fight, The Good Wife, Evil) and Liz Glotzer (Evil, The Good Fight), with Joey Hartstone (The Good Fight) serving as showrunner and executive producer for season two. The first season of YOUR HONOR ranks as the top debut season ever on SHOWTIME.

YOUR HONOR stars Cranston as Michael Desiato, a respected New Orleans judge whose upstanding life is derailed when his teenage son’s accidental hit-and-run killing of the son of notorious crime boss Jimmy Baxter (SAG Award winner Michael Stuhlbarg) led to a high-stakes game of lies, deceit and impossible choices. Emmy nominee Hope Davis (Love Life, American Crime) stars as Jimmy’s wife, Gina, who is at times more dangerous and driven than her husband, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. (The Wire) stars as Charlie, a local politician and Michael’s best friend.

Along with previously announced Oscar- and Emmy-nominated guest star Rosie Perez (The Flight Attendant), Emmy winner Margo Martindale (The Americans) and Amy Landecker (Transparent) will return to guest star. Martindale returns as Senator Elizabeth Guthrie, the mother of Desiato’s deceased wife and one of the last links to his previous life. Landecker plays Detective Nancy Costello, who has been betrayed by her friendship with Desiato and will not let go until she uncovers the truth. Perez is playing Olivia Delmont, a charismatic assistant U.S. Attorney who must manipulate and motivate an unwilling asset in order to bring down a crime organization in New Orleans.

Lilli Kay, Keith Machekanyanga, Andrene Ward-Hammond, Jimi Stanton and Benjamin Flores Jr. have been upped to series regulars for season two. This season, Big Mo (Ward-Hammond), the formidable leader of the Desire Gang, demands fierce loyalty as she pushes to expand her empire throughout New Orleans with help from Little Mo (Machekanyanga). Fia Baxter (Kay) is forced to reckon with the true nature of her family as she deals with the aftermath of her boyfriend’s shooting (by a bullet that was intended for her brother). As the only surviving son of Jimmy Baxter, Carlo (Stanton) is now more determined than ever to follow in his father’s criminal footsteps, while Eugene Jones’ (Flores Jr.) attempt to avenge his brother’s death has created a new chain of events that threaten to create a war on the streets of New Orleans.

YOUR HONOR is executive produced by Emmy nominees Robert and Michelle King and Liz Glotzer. Emmy-winning producer Cranston and Emmy-nominated producer James Degus (All the Way) executive produce the series for Moonshot Entertainment. Joey Hartstone is executive producer and showrunner. YOUR HONOR, produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions, is based on the Israeli series Kvodo created by Ron Ninio and Shlomo Mashiach. Rob Golenberg, Alon Aranya, Ninio, Mashiach, Ram Landes, Ron Eilon and Danna Stern also serve as executive producers.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go towww.SHO.com [sho.com].



Showtime to Release “Nothing Compares” On Demand and Streaming Friday, September 30

Posted on by Danielle Langer





SHOWTIME TO RELEASE NOTHING COMPARES ON DEMAND AND STREAMING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
PREMIERES ON AIR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 AT 10 PM ET/PT

Film Will Have an Awards Qualifying Run in New York and Los Angeles Starting Friday, September 23
Will Release Theatrically in the U.K. and Ireland Friday, October 7

Official Trailer and Key Art Now Available

LOS ANGELES – September 15, 2022 –SHOWTIME announced today its feature documentaryNOTHING COMPARESwill have an awards-qualifying run starting Friday, September 23 at Cinema Village in New York and Laemmle Monica Film Center in Los Angeles. The film will be available to stream for SHOWTIME subscribers Friday, September 30 ahead of its on-air premiere Sunday, October 2 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The documentary will release theatrically in the U.K. and Ireland on Friday, October 7.

Directed by Kathryn Ferguson(Taking the Waters, Space to Be),NOTHING COMPAREScharts Sinéad OʼConnorʼs phenomenal rise to worldwide fame and examines how she used her voice at the height of her stardom, before her iconoclastic personality led to her exile from the pop mainstream. Focusing on O’Connor’s prophetic words and deeds from 1987 to 1993, the film presents an authoritative, richly cinematic portrait of this fearless trailblazer through a contemporary feminist lens.

The archive-led documentary features era-defining music videos and concert performances alongside previously unseen footage from this period. The film is underpinned by a new interview with O’Connor herself, in which she reflects on events in her own words from a present-day perspective. Intimate first-hand contributor interviews add to the tapestry with additional insights from contemporary artists, musicians and social commentators introducing broader themes of Irish history, politics and global activism, all the while reflecting on O’Connor’s artistry, impact and legacy.

Belfast-born Ferguson is an innovative and boundary-pushing director who has focused on short-form work centered on identity, gender politics and community. NOTHING COMPARESis her documentary feature directorial debut and was an official selection in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The film has gone on to win various awards at film festivals this year, including Best Irish Documentary at Galway Film Fleadh, the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Aegean Film Festival, and the Audience Award at Docs Ireland.

The film is produced by Eleanor Emptage and Michael Mallie for Tara Films (U.K.) and Ard Mhacha Productions (Ireland), in association with Field of Vision. Executive producers are Charlotte Cook, Lesley McKimm, Lucy Pullin, John Reynolds and Lisa Marie Russo. The film was supported by Screen Ireland, the BFI Doc Society Fund, IE:Entertainment and Northern Ireland Screen.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.



Showtime to Release “The Lincoln Project”

Posted on by Danielle Langer





SHOWTIME® TO RELEASE THE LINCOLN PROJECT,

AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW POWER AND MONEY SHAPE POLITICS IN AMERICA TODAY

Five-Part Docuseries Will Premiere on Friday, October 7 at 8 PM ET/PT

First-Look Teaser Released

LOS ANGELES – September 12, 2022 – SHOWTIME today announced THE LINCOLN PROJECT, a five-part docuseries following the members of the Lincoln Project over the course of the 2020 election and its aftermath. The series will premiere on October 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and episodes will air back-to-back each Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. All five episodes will also release on demand and on streaming platforms for SHOWTIME subscribers on October 7.

Directed by Fisher Stevens (Dirty Money, Before the Flood) and Karim Amer (The Vow, The Great Hack), THE LINCOLN PROJECT follows a veteran group of former GOP operatives and strategists known publicly as the Lincoln Project, the fastest-growing super PAC in America, as they take on the task of “saving democracy” and defeating their own party’s sitting president.

Celebrated for their scathing ads and biting social media commentary, the series discovers that their operation is a lot more than what meets the eye, with sophisticated data analytics and voter targeting operations churning away behind the scenes. While working to accomplish their stated goal of “defeating Trumpism,” the group is shaken by internal upheaval, a sexual harassment scandal, and a tidal wave of negative press. As one fight ends, another is afoot – and this time it’s personal.

“There has never been a super PAC that has captured the imagination of the general public like the Lincoln Project. They showed us that you could use storytelling and the power of the internet to punch back, and that you could fight a bully by bringing the fight right to their doorstep,” said Stevens and Amer. “Like the best verité documentary journeys we had no idea where this story would take us, and we hope in presenting this all-American tale of redemption, power, and betrayals, that viewers can be entertained and galvanized to be more active in protecting the foundations of American democracy at a time when it is more fragile than ever.”

The series is produced for SHOWTIME by The Othrs in association with Bloomfish Productions. Producers are Alexander Hyde, Mikaela Beardsley, Allison Berg, Judy Korin and Amy Redford. Executive producers are Karim Amer, Fisher Stevens, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Lyn Davis Lear, Vijay Vaidyanathan and Jamie Wolf. Fremantle will distribute the series internationally.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.



MORE CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SHOWTIME DRAMA SERIES KING SHAKA

Posted on by Danielle Langer





MORE CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SHOWTIME DRAMA SERIES KING SHAKA

LOS ANGELES – September 8, 2022 –SHOWTIME announced today that Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Lost, Oz), Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage) will star and Terry Pheto (Tsotsi, The Bold & the Beautiful) and Lerato Mvelase (Justice Served) will guest star in the highly anticipated new series KING SHAKA, an epic drama centered around one man’s personal journey from stigmatized childhood to legendary king. They join previously announced cast Charles Babalola (The Outlaws) as Shaka, Aïssa Maïga (The Fear Index), Thando DIomo (The Woman King), Thapelo Mokoena (Bulletproof) and Warren Masemola (Queen Sono). The CBS Studios production, produced with Propagate and Fuqua Films and to be fully shot in South Africa, kicks off later this month in the historic KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Africa province, the birthplace of King Shaka, and will debut on SHOWTIME in 2023.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje will star as Zwide, the sadistic Chief of Ndwandwe who, although a loving family man, employs ruthless fighting methods and terrifying brutal strength. Pheto will recur as Juma, his devotedly pious yet conspiring wife. Shakir is starring as Dingiswayo, an ousted prince who becomes Shaka’s mentor and de facto father figure. Mvelase will recur as Mkabayi, elder sister to Shaka’s father and the most influential voice in the royal court.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje is best known for his NAACP Image Award-nominated work as Simon Adebisi in Oz, as well as Mr. Eko in Lost and Lock-Nah in The Mummy Returns. He starred most recently in Suicide Squad and Marlowe and will be seen next in the upcoming film Our Man From Jersey. Additional credits include The Bourne Identity, His Dark Materials, Trumbo and The Fix.

Shakir started most recently in Cowboy Bebop opposite John Cho and also starred in Luke Cage as Bushmaster. He will next be seen in KING SHAKA executive producer Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation, Die Like Lovers and Ghosted. Other credits include The Deuce, The Night Of, Brawl in Cell Block 99 and Jett.

Pheto is a critically acclaimed international award-winning actor, producer and casting director. Her film credits include playing Miriam in the Oscar® winning film Tsotsi, Evelyn in Long Walk to Freedom, Winnie Mandela in Madiba, Naledi Khama in A United Kingdom and Dr. Malaika Maponya in The Bold and The Beautiful.

Mvelase is known for her Emmy® Award-nominated role in the South African drama series Home Affairs. She is currently hosting the reality series Seng’Khathele and starring in The Estate. Other credits include Justice Served, Thola, Intersexions, Life Above All, Umkhungo and For Love and Broken Bones.

Rooted in actual events, KING SHAKA tells the story of the Zulu Empire founder Shaka (Babalola) and his unlikely rise to power, uniting multiple tribes across vast stretches of Africa in the early 19th century to transform his power into legend, on par with history’s most seminal figures. The outcast son of a Zulu Chief, Shaka is a visionary who is prophesized to become a king like none before him. In ferocious battles that test the body and soul, in alliances that test the bonds of love and friendship, a complex sociological system plays out that renders the human cost front and center, for the victors as well as the vanquished, all in an effort to carve out a semblance of identity, fulfillment and ultimately, survival.

KING SHAKA is created and executive produced by Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika, and executive produced by Antoine Fuqua, Bridget Carpenter, Propagate’s Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Rodney Ferrell. Seith Mann, who is directing the pilot, and Spencer Medof are also executive producers. Scott Greenberg is a producer, and Michael Callas is producing for Fuqua Films. Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube and Pepsi Pokane also produce.

As part of the production investment in South Africa and the KZN province, more than 300 locals have been hired for jobs across all facets of the production, including cast, crew, performers and craftspeople. In addition, the production is working in concert with leading South African production services company Film Afrika to help facilitate filming in the region. They are also working closely with the KZN Film Commission and with career-building training programs such as SA Film Academy (SAFA) and the Academy of Creative Excellence to provide production internships and other opportunities.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go towww.SHO.com [sho.com].



JAKE PAUL TO FACE UFC GREAT AND PROFESSIONAL BOXER ANDERSON SILVA IN GLOBAL MATCHUP LIVE

Posted on by Danielle Langer





JAKE PAUL TO FACE UFC GREAT AND PROFESSIONAL BOXER ANDERSON SILVA IN GLOBAL MATCHUP LIVE ON SHOWTIME PPV
Saturday, October 29 at Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Ariz.

Kickoff Press Conference To Take Place Monday,

September 12 in Los Angeles; Tickets To The Event Go

On Sale Wednesday, September 14

NEW YORK – September 6, 2022 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and SHOWTIME SPORTS® today announced that international superstar and serial risk-taker Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will face the biggest challenge of his career when he takes on UFC legend and professional boxer Anderson “The Spider” Silva at Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday, October 29 live on SHOWTIME PPV. The bout will be contested over eight rounds at a catchweight of 187 pounds. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, September 14 at 1 p.m. ET and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

Often compared to the Muhammad Ali and Pelé of mixed martial arts, Silva authored one of the strongest resumes of any MMA fighter before returning to pro boxing in 2021. Silva holds the UFC record for the longest title reign in the organization’s history: 2,457 days; the most consecutive UFC victories: 16 and the most finishes in UFC title fights: nine. Known for his superb striking ability in the cage, Silva (34-11, 1 NC in mixed martial arts) has found success as he’s transitioned to boxing in a remarkable second act of his career. The Brazilian announced his return as a world-class boxer in June 2021 when he soundly defeated former middleweight boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., via split decision that wasn’t as close as the scores indicated.

After scheduled bouts with pro boxers Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr. were scuttled, Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) will square off against arguably a far tougher opponent. With deft footwork and an educated jab, Silva showed against Chavez that he is near the peak of his striking powers in what shapes up to be one of the most intriguing bouts of 2022.

“Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva is the most versatile fighter the world has ever seen,” said Paul. “Just a year ago he outclassed boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and showed the world why he is often referred to as the greatest fighter of all time. Every expert, from MMA to boxing, has said Jake Paul won’t fight Anderson Silva. They said Jake Paul is afraid of Anderson Silva, and Jake Paul would lose to Anderson Silva. Well, to all the non-believers – Jake Paul is fighting Anderson Silva. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to share the ring with the greatest UFC striker of all time. On Saturday, October 29, I will walk humbly into the ring, touch gloves with a living legend and do my best to exterminate ‘The Spider.’”

“I know that in life everything has its purpose,” Silva said. “Nothing comes just by chance. So, I thank God for my health, my family and my team for providing me with this opportunity to continue doing the thing that I love the most. I believe this will be the biggest combat event of the year and will truly make history in the sport forever. See you on October 29.”

“Jake Paul continues to take on challenges that other professional fighters at his experience level and popularity never have,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder MVP. “Jake appreciates the platform that he has and always aims to provide fans with a compelling product that drives engagement. Anderson Silva is unequivocally the most exciting striker in UFC history. Those abilities have translated into his professional boxing career, and he most certainly has the ability to end Jake’s unbeaten streak. It’s an honor for Most Valuable Promotions to have one of the GOATs of combat sports headline our event. He is already a Hall of Famer in our books.”

The two fighters will go face-to-face for the first time during back-to-back press events on Monday, September 12 in Los Angeles and on Tuesday, September 13 in Phoenix. Paul, who has done inspiring charity work with his Boxing Bullies foundation, is looking forward to supporting boys and girls in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. “I am excited to bring this massive event to Phoenix and give back to the local community through my Boxing Bullies foundation,” said Paul.

After establishing himself as an all-time great in MMA from 1997 to 2020, Silva has continued to impress with his latest boxing run. He most recently knocked out fellow MMA legend Tito Ortiz in 81 seconds in September 2021 with a huge counter-right hand followed by a left to move his boxing record to three wins, one loss, with two wins by knockout. That followed his dazzling effort against Chavez, who entered their matchup with 58 fights and 34 knockouts and had gone toe-to-toe with some of boxing’s best – champions like Canelo Alvarez, Sergio Martinez and Danny Jacobs. It mattered little as Silva repeatedly let his hands go in combinations, displaying a fluency in the boxing ring that seemed to confound Chavez and doesn’t bode well for Paul. Silva’s only loss in boxing came in 1998 in his boxing debut.

The Sports Illustrated 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year, Paul last fought December 2021 when he recorded one of the year’s most spectacular knockouts – a one -punch KO of former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in front of a sold-out crowd on SHOWTIME PPV. Paul next booked a fight with undefeated cruiserweight Tommy Fury, brother of heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury, on August 6. However, Fury withdrew for the second time in eight months when he was denied entry into the United States.

Paul next secured a fight with Rahman Jr., a 12-1 heavyweight who is the son of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. But the event was canceled when Rahman and his team indicated a week before the bout that they were unable to make the weight limit. In the weeks that followed, Paul and Most Valuable Promotions rescheduled three of the bouts from that event and agreed to pay the other undercard fighters 50 percent of their purse amounts.

The Paul vs. Silva event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.