Amazon has announced the critically acclaimed thriller Absentia to its line-up of original dramatic series will be joining its Prime Video streaming service in 2018.
The series stars and is executive produced by Castle’s Stana Katic, Absentia centres on FBI agent Emily Byrne (Katic).
While hunting one of Boston’s most notorious serial killers, Agent Byrne disappears without a trace and is declared dead.
Six years later, Emily is found in a cabin in the woods, barely alive, and with no memory of the years she was missing.
Returning home to learn her husband has remarried and her son is being raised by another woman, she soon finds herself implicated in a new series of murders.
Absentia also stars Patrick Heusinger (Jack Reacher: Never Go Back) as Emily’s husband and fellow FBI agent Nick who struggles with the guilt that he stopped looking for Emily, and his feelings for her that have resurfaced—especially now that he’s married to another woman.
Produced by Masha Productions and distributed by Sony Pictures Television in association with Sony Pictures Television’s International Networks, the series garnered much fanfare when it opened this year’s Monte Carlo Television Festival and marks Katic’s first leading television role since Castle.
The series was the number-one programme in its timeslot when it debuted in Spain, Portugal, Romania and Poland on SPTN’s AXN channels (Source: Techedge: Kantar Media [Live+VOSDAL], and ARMA – Kantar Media, Nielsen Audience Measurement; all timeslot rank stats based on competitive set of channels for each market).
“Absentia is an exciting new thriller which combines family and love with suspense and vindication,” said Brad Beale, Vice President, Worldwide TV Content Acquisition, Amazon Prime Video.
“Prime members worldwide are going to love this well written show with remarkable performances by a terrific ensemble cast led by Stana Katic in her newest lead role.”
“Amazon is the perfect home for this innovative new thriller series. We believe Absentia will be a stand-out show for Amazon Prime members around the world,” said Paul Littmann, EVP, Worldwide Television Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment.
“Absentia started as a passion project for Sony’s Networks group with a brilliant director and producer and a stellar cast of international talent, all willing to jump into an entirely new model.
“We are thrilled to share this premium independent drama series with Amazon’s global viewers,” said Marie Jacobson, EVP, Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television Networks.
All episodes will debut exclusively on Prime Video in the U.K., as well as in select markets globally, including Australia, Austria, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey and the U.S.
