James R | On 17, Mar 2019

Absentia returns to Amazon Prime Video this summer for a second season, and we’ve got our first look at what’s in store.

The series, starring and executive produced by Castle’s Stana Katic, follows FBI agent Emily Byrne (Katic), who disappeared without a trace and was declared dead after hunting one of Boston’s most notorious serial killers. Six years later, she was 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, Special Agent Nick Durand (Patrick Heusinger, Casual), had remarried and her son, Flynn (Patrick McAuley, The Conjuring 2), was being raised by another woman, she soon found herself implicated in a new series of murders.

Season 2 picks up as Emily struggles to define her new normal as a mother and a survivor of six years of physical and mental torture. Even while she rebuilds her relationship with her son, Emily still cannot shake the darkness of her past. She enlists Boston police detective Tommy Gibbs (Angel Bonanni, False Flag) in a secret investigation of her mysterious history. When the case turns deadly, she risks everything to uncover the truth and protect her family.

Returning alongside Katic, Heusinger and Bonanni are Cara Theobold (Downton Abbey), Neil Jackson (Westworld), and Paul Freeman (The Dogs of War). They will be joined by Matthew Le Nevez (The Widow) and Natasha Little (The Night Manager) as Cal Isaac, a rugged ex-Navy SEAL with a disarmingly upbeat disposition, and Julianne Gunnarsen, an agent brought to the Boston Field Office to help capture the perpetrator of a deadly terrorist attack.

Absentia was commissioned for Sony Pictures Television’s international networks, is produced by Masha Productions and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. The series is executive produced and directed by Oded Ruskin (False Flag), alongside Katic, Matt Cirulnick (South Beach), Julie Glucksman (Still Small Voices), and Maria Feldman (False Flag). The series was created by Gaia Violo (Blood & Treasure) and Matt Cirulnick (South Beach) and is based on a pilot script originally written by Violo.

All 10 episodes of Season 2 will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and select other countries on Friday 14th June, with Season 1 already available to stream. Here’s the trailer:

Absentia: Season 2 is available to watch online on Amazon Prime Video as part of a Prime membership or a £5.99 monthly subscription.

 

Amazon’s Absentia renewed for Season 2

17th September 2018

Amazon’s Absentia has been renewed for a second season.

The thriller, which stars and is exec-produced by Stana Katic, first launched on Sony’s AXN channels in countries including Spain, Portugal, Romania and Poland, before Amazon snapped up the exclusive rights. Now, Amazon has picked up a second season of the series.

Season 1 saw Katic play FBI agent Emily Byrne, who disappears while hunting one of Boston’s most notorious serial killers. Six years later, she’s 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.

“For anyone after the TV equivalent of an airport paperback, this is perfect,” we wrote in our review. “Each step further into the labyrinth reveals red herrings, or semi-connected subplots, adding layers of complexity that make for addictive viewing.”

Now, Amazon has confirmed that the show will return for a second run, with Prime Video debuting its sophomore outing in the UK, USA, Austria, Germany, India, Italy and other countries. Season 2 will see Katic joined by Matthew Le Nevez (The Widow), Natasha Little (The Night Manager) and Patrick Heusinger (reprising his role as Emily’s ex-husband, Special Agent Nick Durand), alongside returning members Cara Theobold, Neil Jackson, Angel Bonanni, Paul Freeman and Patrick McAuley. Le Nevez will play Cal Isaac, described as “a rugged ex-Navy SEAL with a disarmingly upbeat disposition” Little will play Special Agent Julianne Gunnarsen, “an accomplished, enigmatic and beautiful FBI Profiler with a chilly efficiency”.

“Absentia really resonated with our Prime Video audience who were enthralled by the thrilling storyline and complicated characters,” says Vernon Sanders, Co-Head of Television, Amazon Studios. “Stana Katic is immensely talented and we look forward to her peeling away the layers of a twisted conspiracy that is deeper than her character “Emily” could have ever imagined in season two.”

“From its inception on Sony’s international networks, Absentia has been a hit with global audiences,” adds Marie Jacobson, EVP, Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television Networks. “We’re thrilled to push our story forward into season two and couldn’t ask for a better home than Amazon for our signature Sony Networks series.”

The series is executive produced and directed by Oded Ruskin, alongside EPs Julie Glucksman, Katic and Maria Feldman. Filming on Season 2 is currently underway in Sofia, Bulgaria.

 

>Amazon unveils Absentia trailer and February release date

10th January 2018

Stana Katic thriller Absentia will arrive on Amazon Prime Video this February, Amazon has confirmed, and a new trailer gives us a taste of what’s in store.

Starring and executive produced by the Castle star, the series 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.

Katic is joined by 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. Nick is now tasked with the unthinkable: having to bring Emily into custody as the prime suspect in a string of shocking new murders. Forced to prove her innocence, Emily goes on the run. But the closer Emily gets to answers, the more she puts herself and her family in danger.

In addition to Katic and Heusinger, other cast members include Cara Theobold (Downton Abbey), Neil Jackson (Sleepy Hollow), Angel Bonanni (False Flag), Richard Brake (Game of Thrones), Ralph Ineson (Game of Thrones), Paul Freeman (The Dogs of War), Bruno Bichir (Narcos) and Patrick McAuley (The Conjuring 2).

All 10 episodes will debut on Amazon Prime Video worldwide on Friday 2nd February. Here’s the trailer:

 

Amazon acquires Stana Katic thriller Absentia

16th November 2017

Amazon has acquired the exclusive rights to crime thriller Absentia, starring Stana Katic.

The actress, known for her role in Castle, will return to the small screen to play FBI agent Emily Byrne, who disappears while hunting one of Boston’s most notorious serial killers. Declared dead, she is found in a cabin in the woods six years later, with no memory of what happened. She goes home, only to find her husband with a new wife and her son raised by another woman – and herself implicated a new string of murders.

Katie is joined by Patrick Heusinger as Emily’s husband – and fellow FBI agent – Nick, as well as Cara Theobold, Neil Jackson, Angel Bonanni, Richard Brake, Ralph Ineson, Paul Freeman, Bruno Bichir and Patrick McAuley.

The series is created by Gaia Violo and Cirulnick, based on a pilot script by Violo. Produced by Tel Aviv-based Masha Productions and distributed by Sony Pictures Television in association with Sony’s International Networks, it premiered at the Monte Carlo Television Festival this year, before successfully launching on Sony’s AXN channels in countries including Spain, Portugal, Romania and Poland. The series is directed by Oded Ruskin, who exec produced alongside Katic, Matt Cirulnick, Julie Glucksman and Maria Feldman.

“Absentia is an exciting new thriller which combines family and love with suspense and vindication,” Brad Beale, Amazon VP, Worldwide TV Content Acquisition, in a statement. “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.”

“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,” adds Marie Jacobson, EVP, Programming & Production, Sony Pictures TV Networks. “We are thrilled to share this premium independent drama series with Amazon’s global viewers.”

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