Sundance Channel Renews RECTIFY

On the heels of its critically lauded, highly anticipated premiere last week, Sundance Channel announced the renewal of the network’s first wholly owned original scripted series “Rectify” for ten new episodes slated to air in 2014. The haunting story of a man released from prison after spending nearly two decades on death row, “Rectify” has been overwhelmingly well-received by critics when it debuted on Monday, April 22nd, including Matt Roush at TV Guide, who rated the series a “10 out of 10” and called it “TV’s most absorbing, unsettling new drama.” Jace Lacob, TV Critic for The Daily Beast dubbed “Rectify” “the best new show of 2013” and Mary McNamara at the Los Angeles Times said “’Rectify’ is a revelation that sets a new standard… a game changer.” “Rectify” is created and written by Ray McKinnon (The Accountant, “Deadwood,” “Sons Of Anarchy”), and executive produced by Mark Johnson and Melissa Bernstein, the award-winning producers behind “Breaking Bad.” Season one will finale on May 20 at 10pm EST.

Sarah Barnett, Sundance Channel President and General Manager, stated, “The response to ‘Rectify’ has been incredible. We feel as though this story has tapped into something truly unique, with both critics and audiences using their platforms to share such strong, personal reactions to this very distinctive TV series. There’s so much drama and character that’s been set up in the first season, it will be electrifying to see where Rectify goes in season two.”

“Rectify” tells the story of Daniel Holden (Aden Young) who is released after serving nearly 20 years in complete isolation on death row, as he returns as an outsider to his family, to his COMMUNITY, and to the times. Somehow, he survived the mental and emotional strain of his imprisonment, but now the walls have suddenly come crumbling down and Daniel is set free in a world he no longer understands. He’s an outsider, lost in a once familiar world, struggling to navigate his new found freedom. Combined with two decades of technological and social changes to his small town and the larger world, everything he encounters is a puzzle. Daniel’s unexpected presence not only throws his family into disarray, it ripples out to all the people connected to his case – the prosecutor who rode the notoriety to become a State Senator, the Sheriff who pushed the boundaries of the investigation, and the entire town of Paulie, GA, that blamed him for killing one of their own. Like a deadly spark, Daniel’s release reignites the mystery, the power plays, and the questionable justice that condemned him.

Also starring in “Rectify” alongside Aden Young (Killer Elite, The Tree) as Daniel Holden are Abigail Spencer (Cowboys and Aliens, “Mad Men,” Oz the Great and Powerful), who portrays Amantha Holden, Daniel Holden’s younger sister who believes completely in his innocence and has devoted her entire adult life to securing his release; J. Smith Cameron (“True Blood”, Margaret) who plays Janet Talbot, Daniel’s loving mother, who has been living with the impending death of her son for nineteen years and who long ago had made peace with the loss of her son, giving up on any hope for his release; Luke Kirby (Take this Waltz, “Slings and Arrows”) tackles the role of Jon Stern, Daniel’s lawyer who works for an organization dedicated to exonerating the wrongfully convicted; Clayne Crawford (A Walk to Remember) portrays Ted Talbot, Jr., Daniel’s stepbrother whom he had never previously met; Adelaide Clemens (Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, The Great Gatsby) plays Tawney Talbot, Ted’s kind-hearted wife; and Jake Austin Walker (The Chaperone) plays Daniel’s half brother Jared.

“Rectify” is shot on location in Griffin, Georgia, near Atlanta. The second season will go back into production later this year.