Internationally-acclaimed series, Counterpart premieres exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand

Internationally-acclaimed series, Counterpart premieres exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand

17 May 2018

News Release

A thrilling twist on the traditional spy drama, Counterpart will give new meaning to the term double-crossing when the series premieres on SBS and SBS On Demand following the Australia v France' FIFA World Cup match at 10:30pm AEST Saturday, June 16.

The 10-part drama has already received a glowing reception from international audiences and critics alike, with a Certified Fresh rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Set in the captivating world of espionage, intrigue and government conspiracies, Counterpart dives into the mysterious world hidden beneath the surface of everyday existence. The show explores themes of identity, fate and lost love, posing the eternal question, What if our lives could have been different?

The series follows Howard Silk (Academy Award-winning star of Whiplash and Spider-man J.K. Simmons), a lowly cog in the bureaucratic machinery of a Berlin-based spy agency. When he discovers that his organisation is hiding a secret gateway into a parallel dimension, Howard is thrust into a shadowy world of intrigue, danger and double crossing where the only man he can trust is Prime (also played by Simmons), his near-identical counterpart' from this parallel world.

Marshall Heald, SBS's Director of Television and Online Content said: Counterpart has been highly-acclaimed by both international critics and audiences alike, for its intense exploration of identity, relationships and culture. The bi-lingual series is the perfect fit to join our slate of bold, provocative international dramas.

Robert Lanier, Sony Pictures Television's SVP, International Distribution, Asia Pacific said Counterpart is an intriguing story, with an incredible cast including an extraordinary performance by J.K. Simmons in two lead roles. SBS's commitment to diverse, premium international content makes it the perfect home for the series in Australia.

J.K. Simmons features in a multi-faceted dual lead performance, supported by a stellar international cast comprising Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense, Hyde Park on Hudson), Harry Lloyd (The Theory of Everything, Game of Thrones), Nicholas Pinnock (Captain America: The First Avenger) and Nazanin Boniadi (Homeland, Hotel Mumbai). Academy Award nominee Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game) directed the first episode.

Created, written and executive produced by Justin Marks (The Jungle Book, Rewind), the dual-language English and German series emerged from his keen interest in British spy classics from the likes of Ian Fleming and Graham Greene, combined with his desire to create an American/British hybrid series.

Counterpart is produced by Gilbert Films, Anonymous Content and MRC. Sony Pictures Television sells the show globally. It is executive produced by Amy Berg (Da Vinci's Demons), Gary Gilbert (La La Land) with Gilbert Films, Jordan Horowitz La La Land), Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game), as well as Keith Redmon (The Revenant) and Bard Dorros (Spotlight).

SBS will preview the first episode of Counterpart at 10.30pm AEST Saturday, 16 June with the full season premiere available on SBS On Demand immediately following the France v Australia' FIFA World CupTM match.

The complete first season of Counterpart will air on SBS at 10:30pm Wednesdays from 8 August.

LINK:	https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/2560/h/Inte...
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