HBO Canada presents Al Pacino as Jack Kevorkian in the HBO original film You
Don't Know Jack

- Starring Al Pacino and Susan Sarandon, directed by Barry Levinson

- Premieres Saturday, April 24 at 9 p.m. ET/MT, day-and-date with HBO in the U.S.

TORONTO, March 29 /CNW/ - In 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian captivated the world as he took the end-of-life debate head on with his "Mercy Machine" and performed his first assisted suicide. Now, HBO is telling this fascinating story in You Don't Know Jack, a new original film starring Oscar(R) and Emmy(R)-winning actor Al Pacino as Kevorkian, premiering Saturday, April 24 at 9 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada, a multiplex channel of Astral Media's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada).

Recognized by many as one of the most polarizing figures in modern American history, Jack "Dr. Death" Kevorkian's passionate belief that people have the right to die brought him both praise and vilification. When Kevorkian performed his first assisted suicide, by helping an Alzheimer's patient end her life using a homemade machine known as a "Mercitron," the event set off a national media frenzy and triggered a decade-long war between Kevorkian and county prosecutors who were committed to shutting Kevorkian down.

You Don't Know Jack follows the story of former pathologist Kevorkian as he launches his crusade to provide what he considers to be a humane and dignified option for the terminally ill, assisted suicide. Aided by his allies -older sister Margo Janus (Brenda Vaccaro); loyal friend Neal Nicol (John Goodman); right-to-die organization and Hemlock Society activist Jane Good (Susan Sarandon); and defence attorney Geoffrey Fieger (Danny Huston) - Kevorkian offers his "death counselling" services to over 100 patients, and ultimately catapults himself to the forefront of news headlines and a cause fraught with legal and ethical hurdles.

The film is directed by Oscar(R)-winner Barry Levinson; executive produced by Steve Lee Jones, Glenn Rigberg, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Tom Fontana and Levinson; produced by Scott Ferguson; and written by Adam Mazer.

You Don't Know Jack will be simulcast on HBO Canada HD, and will be available on demand. It will also be available on The Movie Network OnLine with Bell TV following its network premiere.

HBO Canada is a multiplex channel offered by Astral Media's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada). HBO Canada brings Canadians the current slate of signature dramatic programs for which HBO is known, together with new and never-before-seen programming including comedy series, live specials, sporting events, behind-the-scenes content and titles from HBO's extensive library - all in an uncut and commercial-free environment. HBO Canada is offered in high definition on HBO Canada HD and programming is accessible on demand where available by service provider. For more information, please visit www.hbocanada.com.

The Movie Network is an Astral Media Television Network. Astral Media is a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media. Astral Media's solid and dynamic presence in the country's major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences. For more information about Astral Media, please visit www.astralmedia.com.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B/CJR), a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

For access to The Movie Network's media room or Movie Central's press site, please visit http://tv.astral.com or http://mediacentre.corusent.com.

For further information: Media contacts: The Movie Network (Eastern Canada), Nicolle Balen, [phone], [email protected]; Movie Central (Western Canada), Owen McCorquodale, [phone], [email protected]