Martin Sheen To Star in Breakthrough Entertainment's Original Movie Production Of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables for YTV

TORONTO, June 9, 2015 /CNW/ - Breakthrough Entertainment announced today that renowned actor Martin Sheen will play the role of Matthew Cuthbert in the highly anticipated original television movie Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, to debut on Corus Entertainment's YTV in early 2016. Sheen will portray the shy brother of straight-laced Marilla Cuthbert in the two-hour movie. Together the brother and sister who live in the P.E.I. estate Green Gables, take in young Anne Shirley from an orphanage to serve in their household – and forge a bond that will change their lives forever. 

Now in production in several locations throughout Canada, Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, based on the classic Anne series of novels, is beautifully reimagined by Breakthrough in association with the author's granddaughter, Kate MacDonald Butler who serves as an Executive Producer. The movie is directed by John Kent Harrison based on a script by Susan Coyne.

Taking the starring role of Anne Shirley is 13-year-old actress Ella Ballentine (Baby's First Christmas, The Calling, Standoff, Reign) and playing Marilla will be Sara Botsford (E.N.G., As the World Turns, Trudeau).  Additional cast includes Julia Lalonde, Kate Honig, Stefani Kimber, Drew Haytaoglu, Kyle Gatehouse and Linda Kash.

Martin Sheen's credits encompass an impressive roster of memorable and award-winning roles on the stage, in film and on television. From his Tony award-nominated performance in The Subject Was Roses to his big screen roles in The Incident, Badlands, Catch-22, Wall Street, The American President, Gandhi, Catch Me If You Can – and perhaps his most iconic performance in Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam War masterpiece Apocalypse Now – he has earned a place among the world's most celebrated and versatile actors. Sheen's high-profile work in television has also earned him universal acclaim. In addition to receiving a Best Actor Golden Globe Award, Sheen received six Emmy nominations for his role as President Bartlet on The West Wing. He picked up another nomination for a guest appearance on his son Charlie Sheen's hit comedy Two and a Half Men. Martin also continued to collaborate with his son Charlie as a reoccurring guest star on the FX sitcom Anger Management. Most recently, Martin has been starring in GRACE & FRANKIE, the comedy series about two women facing the last chapter of their lives, but not in the way they expected. Sheen and his wife, Janet, live in Los Angeles. The couple has four children, all of whom have followed in their father's footsteps from time to time.

First published in 1908, Anne of Green Gables remains an iconic work of Canadian literature, which has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The eight classic Anne of Green Gables novels set in P.E.I. have attracted generations of readers inspired by the adventures of the spirited redhead Anne Shirley, who comes to stay at Green Gables and wins the hearts of everyone she meets.

"We are thrilled to have Martin Sheen star in Breakthrough Entertainment's production of the television movie Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.  One of the most distinguished and honored actors in the world, Martin Sheen is an outstanding addition to our impressive cast," said Peter Williamson, Breakthrough Entertainment Partner and Executive Producer and Joan Lambur, Executive Vice-President, Family Entertainment for Breakthrough Entertainment and Executive Producer.

About Breakthrough Entertainment:  Headquartered in Toronto, Breakthrough Entertainment Inc. (BEI) is a world class studio, being a leading global producer and distributor of acclaimed primetime comedy and drama series, as well as factual entertainment, documentaries, television movies, feature films, family entertainment and children's animation. As one of Canada's largest television production and distribution companies, BEI has licensed programs to major broadcasters worldwide.  A vertically-integrated entertainment studio, Breakthrough is involved in worldwide distribution as well as pre-sales, co-productions and third-party acquisitions.  In addition, Breakthrough's digital media division ranks among one of the industry's most respected producers of high quality digital entertainment including ebooks, webisodes and online and mobile games.  www.breakthroughentertainment.com. Follow us on Twitter @breakthru_ent.

SOURCE Corus Entertainment Inc.

SSA Public Relations/Steve Syatt (For Breakthrough Entertainment), [phone] / [email protected], (For Corus Entertainment) Kate Calder/416-479-6319, [email protected], (Unit Publicity) Cynthia Amsden/[phone], [email protected]