Amazon has landed the U.S. rights to original drama series Absentia starring Stana Katic (Castle). The 10-episode first season will premiere sometime in 2018.
Amazon will also distribute the drama in Australia, Austria, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey and the UK. The series has already had its linear debut this fall on AXN, the Sony Pictures Television-owned premium cable network, across several European countries.
The drama stars Katic as Emily Byrne, an FBI agent who disappears without a trace and is declared dead while hunting one of Boston's most notorious serial killers. Six years later, she is found in a cabin in the woods, barely alive and with no memory of the years she was missing. She returns home not only to learn that her husband has remarried and her son is being raised by another woman, but also to soon find herself implicated in a string of murders.
Patrick Heusinger stars as Emily's now-former husband and fellow FBI agent Nick who struggles with the guilt that he stopped looking for Emily, and his rekindled feelings for her. He now must bring Emily into custody as the prime suspect in a shocking series of murders. Emily risks putting her family in more danger as she goes on the run to search for her answers and prove her innocence.
The cast also includes Cara Theobold, Neil Jackson, Angel Bonanni, Richard Brake, Ralph Ineson, Paul Freeman, Bruno Bichir and Patrick McAuley.
Gaia Violo and Matt Cirulnick created the drama. They executive produce with Katic, Julie Glucksman, Maria Feldman and director Oded Ruskin. Sony Pictures Television and Masha Productions produce.
"Absentia is an exciting new thriller which combines family and love with suspense and vindication," said Brad Beale, Vice President of Worldwide TV Content Acquisition, Amazon. "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."
"Amazon is the perfect home for this innovative new thriller series. We believe Absentia will be a standout show for Amazon Prime members around the world," added Paul Littman, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Television Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment.
