Lights, Camera, Action! The Newsroom Returns For a Second Season July 14 on HBO Canada

• Marcia Gay Harden among new cast  for sophomore season of Aaron Sorkin's provocative drama starring Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer

TORONTO, June 21, 2013 /CNW/ - The Golden Globe^®-nominated drama series The Newsroom kicks off its nine-episode second season on Sunday, July 14 at 10 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada, a multiplex channel of Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada) and Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada). The Newsroom follows the "News Night" team on their mission to do the news well in the face of a fickle audience, corporate mandates and tangled personal relationships.

Covering the period from August 2011 to November 2012, the new season touches on the administration's anti-terrorism policy, Occupy Wall Street, Troy Davis, Trayvon Martin, Benghazi and, of course, the primaries and general election. The Newsroom offers viewers an opportunity to return to and relive the news that made headlines as they watch it unfold for the show's characters, who race to put together the broadcast.

The series is created by Aaron Sorkin (Oscar^® winner for writing The Social Network, executive producer and creator of the multiple Emmy^® winner The West Wing) and executive produced by Sorkin, Scott Rudin (Oscar^® winner No Country for Old Men) and Alan Poul (HBO's multiple Emmy^® winner for Six Feet Under).

Jeff Daniels (Golden Globe^® nominee for The Newsroom, as well as The Squid and the Whale, Something Wild and The Purple Rose of Cairo) stars as Will McAvoy and Emily Mortimer (Hugo, Shutter Island) stars as Mackenzie McHale, the show's executive producer.

Other returning cast regulars for the second season are: John Gallagher, Jr. as Jim Harper, Mackenzie's loyal producer; Alison Pill as associate producer Maggie Jordan; Thomas Sadoski as Don Keefer, Will's former executive producer; Dev Patel as resourceful self-made newsman Neal Sampat; Olivia Munn as financial news analyst Sloan Sabbith; and Sam Waterston as Charlie Skinner, Will's old-school boss.

Returning guests for season two include Jane Fonda and Hope Davis. New to the guest cast in season two are Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater, Grace Gummer and Constance Zimmer.

In Western Canada, episodes will be available in High Definition on HBO Canada HD; on demand, via mobile and online with participating service providers.

In Eastern Canada, episodes will be available in High Definition, on demand, on TMN GO, and on HBO Canada OnLine.

HBO Canada is a multiplex channel offered by Astral'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 and online where available by service provider. For more information, please visit www.hbocanada.com.

The Movie Network is a member of the Astral family. Astral Media Inc. (TSX : ACM.A/ACM.B) is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and interactive media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B), a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, 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://press.astral.com or http://mediacentre.corusent.com.

SOURCE: Movie Central

Media contacts:
The Movie Network (Eastern Canada)
Ellery Ulster
[phone]
[email protected]

Movie Central (Western Canada)
Owen McCorquodale
[phone]
[email protected]