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MGM Television, Eagle Pictures and Barbary Films have started production in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on a 10-part television series event for premium cable network EPIX, an MGM company, based on the bestselling European novel by Joël Dicker, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, which has sold more than two million books worldwide and was translated into more than 25 languages. The suspenseful dramatic series stars Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominated actor Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy, Bridget Jones's Baby) in the title role as Harry Quebert, a literary icon who suddenly finds himself indicted for murder after the body of a young girl is found buried on his property. Marcus Goldman, a successful young novelist who has been mentored by Harry Quebert, will be played by Ben Schnetzer (Snowden, Pride). Jean-Jacques Annaud (Seven Years in Tibet, Black Gold), Director of the Academy Award winning film Black and White in Color, will make his television directorial debut, directing every episode of the series.

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair takes place in coastal Maine and focuses on Marcus Goldman who is visiting Harry Quebert's home to find a cure for his writer's block as his publisher's deadline looms. Marcus' plans are suddenly upended when Harry is sensationally implicated in the cold-case murder of Nola Kellergan, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been missing for many years. Damon Wayans Jr. (Happy Endings, New Girl) will play Sgt. Perry Gahalowood, a Maine State Police investigator who is investigating the death of Kellergan. Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen (Joy, Designated Survivor, Sideways) plays Tamara Quinn, Jenny Quinn's mother and the owner of a local diner who learns of a secret about Quebert.

Rounding out the cast are Kristine Froseth (Apostle), a newcomer who plays Nola Kellergan, the teenage girl who captivates Harry Quebert and becomes his muse; Colm Feore (House of Cards) as the wealthy and inscrutable Elijah Stern, one of the most powerful men in New England who's spent his life atoning for a secret past; Josh Close (Person of Interest) plays Luther Caleb, Elijah Stern's right hand man who suffers from disfiguring scars caused by a horrific attack that happened in his past; Matt Frewer (Timeless) as Reverend Kellergan, Nola's eccentric father; Connor Price (X Company) as Young Travis Dawn, a rookie cop who falls love with Jenny Quinn, a former prom queen played by Tessa Mossey (The Glass Castle) in her teenage years and by Victoria Clark (Homeland) in her adult years; Craig Eldridge (The Death and Life of John F. Donavan) plays the elder Travis Dawn who has risen in the ranks to become chief of police; Kurt Fuller (Phil) plays Police Chief Gareth Pratt who originally ran the investigation into Nola's disappearance, but is now retired; Don Harvey (The Deuce) as Bobbo Quinn, Tamara Quinn's husband; Felicia Shulman (Brad's Status) as Maggie Pratt, Chief Gareth Pratt's wife and the town busybody; Wayne Knight (Narcos) as Benjamin Roth, Harry's high-priced, high-pressure attorney.

Showtime Networks announced that four-time Emmy(R) nominated actress Connie Britton (Nashville, Friday Night Lights) will appear in a multi-episode guest arc on the half-hour comedy series SMILF, starring writer, director and executive producer Frankie Shaw (Mr. Robot). Britton will play Ally, Bridgette's (Shaw) unstable boss who struggles with boundaries and finds herself in constant pursuit of self-betterment. Her expectations for Bridgette's role in her life go far beyond tutoring her kids. SMILF will premiere on Sunday, November 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, following the 9 p.m. ET/PT season premiere that night of the SHOWTIME hit series Shameless. In addition, two other SMILF roles have been cast. Raven Goodwin (Being Mary Jane) will recur as Eliza, Bridgette's best friend and sometimes roommate who's in pharmacy school. Eliza and Bridgette's ties run deep as Eliza is allowed to let go of her perfectionist tendencies when she's with her messy friend. Goodwin has also appeared in such films as Snatched and television series as Glee, Good Luck Charlie and Huge. Mark Webber (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) will also recur as Father Eddie, a sober priest who runs a Catholic Parish in South Boston. Webber's other credits include Happy Christmas and The Laramie Project.

SMILF will take a raw and honest comedic look at a single, 20-something from Southie, Bridgette (Frankie Shaw), whose desires for relationships, sex and a career collide with the realities of young, single motherhood. Adapting her Sundance Film Festival Jury award-winning short film, Shaw will star, write, produce and direct the semi-autobiographical comedy, with Oscar(R) nominee Michael London (Sideways), Emmy(R) nominees Janice Williams (Confirmation), Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (The Office, Bad Teacher), and Scott King (Difficult People) executive producing. Multiple Emmy winner Rosie O'Donnell will co-star in her first series regular TV role as Tutu, Bridgette's prideful Southie mother who lives by her own set of rules. The series is produced by ABC Signature Studios as a co-production with SHOWTIME.