'New Worlds' Coming to Acorn TV SVOD Service

Variety: Four-part British period drama “New Worlds,” starring Jamie Dornan (“50 Shades of Grey,” “The Fall”), will premiere exclusively in the U.S. on subscription video-on-demand service Acorn TV on Feb. 16.

“New Worlds,” which originally aired in the U.K.’s Channel 4 last year, is a drama and love story set in the 1680s after the turmoil of the English Civil War depicting the terror and turbulence in both England and America at the time. New episodes of the series will air on consecutive Mondays through March 9 on Acorn TV, the British TV streaming service operated by Robert Johnson’s RLJ Entertainment.

In the series, Dornan plays a heroic idealist and outlaw. “New Worlds” also stars Joe Dempsie (“Game of Thrones”), Freya Mavor (“Sunshine on Leith,” “Skins”), Alice Englert (“Beautiful Creatures”), Eve Best (“Nurse Jackie”) and Jeremy Northam (“Tudors,” “Gosford Park”) as King Charles II.

“Led by Jamie Dornan and an impressive cast of up-and-coming actors, plus a gripping, action-packed script and lavish production values, ‘New Worlds’ is among the best of British period dramas,” RLJ Entertainment CEO Miguel Penella said.

“New Worlds” was created and written by Peter Flannery and Martine Brandt (“The Devils Whore”) and co-produced by Company Pictures and Power. RLJ Entertainment’s Acorn brand will also release “New Worlds” on DVD and Blu-ray Disc later this year.

Acorn TV, available on the web, Apple iOS devices, Roku and Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-ray players, features a catalog of Brit mysteries, dramas, documentaries and comedies. The service is $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.

RLJ Entertainment’s Acorn brand owns exclusive North American distribution rights to many British programs, including spy-mystery series “Foyle’s War,” the final season of which the SVOD service will premiere Feb. 2. RLJE also owns a majority share in Agatha Christie Ltd., which manages Agatha Christie’s literary works including characters Hercule Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence, and Miss Marple.