PRODUCTION COMMENCES ON STARZ' "THE WHITE PRINCESS"

Jacob Collins-Levy, Joanne Whalley, Essie Davis, Suki Waterhouse and Vincent Regan Join Cast

Jamie Payne Attached to Direct and Produce

Beverly Hills, Calif. - June 13, 2016 - Starz announced today production has commenced on "The White Princess," the follow-up to the Golden Globe(R) and Emmy(R) award-nominated STARZ Original Miniseries "The White Queen," from Company Pictures and Playground. Adapted from Philippa Gregory's best-selling novel of the same name and part of The Cousins' War book series, "The White Princess" sees England ostensibly united by the marriage of Elizabeth of York and King Henry VII, but their personal and political rift runs deep and the war that rages between them threatens to tear the kingdom apart once again. "The White Princess" is a tale of power, family, love, betrayal and death, which charts one of the most tumultuous times in British history uniquely from the point of view of the women waging the ongoing battle for the English throne. The 8-episode Original Limited Series drama is helmed by writer Emma Frost ("The White Queen," "The Man in the High Castle," "Shameless") as Showrunner and Executive Producer. The show will be directed by Jamie Payne ("Legends," "Quantico"), also on board as Producer. "The White Princess" is shooting on location in Bristol and around the UK.

Full casting is also now announced: newcomer Jacob Collins-Levy ("Glitch," Holding the Man) joins the production in the role of Henry VII, the paranoid and unlikely king forced to marry an enemy to secure his throne; the equally unwilling Princess Elizabeth (played by Jodie Comer ("Doctor Foster," "My Mad Fat Diary")), daughter of the rival House of York; and Princess Elizabeth's mother Dowager Queen Elizabeth "The White Queen," indomitable strategist and unwavering supporter of the York cause, is played by Essie Davis (Babadook, "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries"). Even after the death of her husband King Edward IV and the fall of her House from the throne, Elizabeth's faith in York's eventual return to power is sustained by the boy she believes to be Prince Richard - her last surviving son and the only genuine challenge to King Henry's royal claim. Loyalties blur and families find themselves on opposing sides as the House of Tudor tries to cement its rule over an increasingly fragmented empire, where loyalty is a scarce commodity and the fear of betrayal is ever-present.

Joanne Whalley ("Wolf Hall," "The Borgias") joins as the widowed Duchess of Burgundy, Elizabeth of York's aunt, and sister to dead kings Richard III and Edward IV of England - a sensual, intelligent York woman who presides over her cultured court across the English Channel. Previously announced Michelle Fairley ("Game of Thrones," "Rebellion") will play the role of Margaret Beaufort, Henry VII's mother who was a philanthropist, benefactor for the Church, and the calculating mastermind behind Henry's ascent to the Throne of England. Margaret understands that winning the throne and keeping it safe for the Tudor line are two different things, and works to fortify King Henry's rule, as York rivals continue to plot against them.

Suki Waterhouse (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Insurgent) has been cast as Cecily of York, the self-interested and jealous younger sister to Princess Elizabeth, while the role of their cousin Margaret Plantagenet - reluctant member of the York clan because of the precarious political position it puts her and her brother in at the Tudor court - is played by Rebecca Benson ("Game of Thrones," Justin Kurzel's Macbeth).

Other cast includes: Rhys Connah as Teddy, Caroline Goodall as Duchess Cecily, Kenneth Cranham as Bishop Morton and Vincent Regan (300) as Jasper Tudor. Director and Producer Jamie Payne previously directed three episodes of the acclaimed STARZ Original Miniseries "The White Queen," and he is integral in shaping the vision for "The White Princess" - directing episodes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. Jamie has most recently directed an episode of "Queen of the South" for FOX, "Quantico" for ABC Studios and directed and produced two episodes of "Legends." He directed episodes of "Indian Summers" for New Pictures and Channel 4 and three episodes of "American Odyssey" for NBC Universal, starring Anna Friel, Peter Facinelli, Treat Williams and Jack Robinson. Jamie directed critically acclaimed miniseries "The Driver," starring David Morrissey, "Da Vinci's Demons" for STARZ & BBC, and episodes of the Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy and BAFTA nominated series "The Hour" and "The Hour II" starring Romola Garai, Ben Wishaw and Dominic West.

Lachlan MacKinnon ("Burton and Taylor") is serving as Producer for the series, with Gregory on board as Executive Producer on this adaptation of her novel. Playground's Colin Callender ("The White Queen," "The Dresser," "Wolf Hall") and Scott Huff will serve as Executive Producers with Company Pictures' Michele Buck ("Parades End," "Sex Traffic," "Hornblower").

About "The White Princess"

"The White Princess" concludes the story of England's War of the Roses and charts the rise of the House of Tudor through the tempestuous marriage between Princess Elizabeth of York and King Henry VII. The year is 1485 and Princess Elizabeth, daughter of "The White Queen," has been pledged in marriage to the newly anointed King Henry VII in hopes that it will bring peace to a war-torn country. England is united, but their marriage is soon divided, as rumors circulate that Elizabeth's long-lost brother Prince Richard is alive and planning to take the throne. Now she must choose between Tudor wife and York princess, between her new husband and the boy who claims to be her own blood and the true heir to the crown. "The White Princess" tells the story of one of the most fascinating periods of British history uniquely from the women's point of view. "The White Princess" is filming on location in Bristol, UK and will air on STARZ in 2017. Starz retains all domestic and international multiplatform rights including television, home entertainment, and digital.

About Starz

Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks (Starz Networks) and global content distribution (Starz Distribution), www.starz.com. The Starz Networks operating unit is home to the flagship STARZ(R) brand with 24.0 million subscribers in the United States as of March 31, 2016, with the STARZ ENCORESM network at 32.4 million subscribers. Through STARZ, the company provides high quality, entertaining premium subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels and associated on-demand and online services. STARZ is sold through U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and digital platforms. Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films every year and up to 1,500 every month, including STARZ Original series, first-run movies and other popular movie and television programming. The Starz Distribution operating unit is home to the Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Digital, and Starz Worldwide Distribution divisions. In addition to STARZ Original series, Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires movies, television and other entertainment content for worldwide home video, digital, and television licensing and sales.

About Playground

Playground is a New York and London based television and theatre production company that was founded in 2012 by Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Tony award winning producer Colin Callender. It is committed to producing quality drama for the screen and the stage bringing together the finest US and UK talent from the worlds of theatre, film, and television. Callender won his first Emmy for the television adaptation of the RSC's "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" and, as president of HBO Films, was responsible for an unprecedented award-winning slate of movies and miniseries. Playground has produced over 50 hours of prime time television drama garnering 15 Emmy nominations, 20 BAFTA nominations, including 7 wins, and 11 Golden Globe nominations, including a Golden Globe win for Best Miniseries. Recent productions include the Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe, BAFTA and Peabody Award winning six-part miniseries adaptation of Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall" starring Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, Claire Foy and Jonathan Pryce for the BBC and Masterpiece, the television adaptation of Ronald Harwood's "The Dresser" starring Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins and directed by Richard Eyre for the BBC and Starz, and Ken Lonergan's upcoming four-part adaptation of E.M. Forster's Howards End for the BBC. Playground's recent Broadway productions include: Nora Ephron's Tony nominated Lucky Guy directed by George C. Wolfe starring Tom Hanks in his Broadway debut, Harvey Fierstein's Tony nominated Casa Valentina directed by Joe Mantello, the Tony award winning revival of musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Jez Butterworth's The River directed by Ian Rickson starring Hugh Jackman, and Kenneth Branagh and Rob Ashford's critically acclaimed production of Macbeth at The Park Avenue Armory in New York. Playground, in partnership with Sonia Friedman Productions, is producing John Tiffany's two-part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child written by Jack Thorne which is currently in previews at the Palace Theatre in London.

About Company Pictures

Company Pictures is one of the UK's largest independent film and television producers. Founded in 1998, we have produced hundreds of hours of critically acclaimed, award winning drama. Company has produced major drama series for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, WGBH, HBO, Starz and other leading broadcasters all over the world. Company was responsible for period drama Elizabeth (winner of three Golden Globes), eleven series of the multi award winning Shameless, the much loved long running family series Wild at Heart and the hugely popular teen drama Skins. Recently, Company produced a big budget six part adaptation for the BBC of Hilary Mantel's prize winning "Wolf Hall" (recent winner of a Golden Globe(R)), written by Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), directed by BAFTA nominated Peter Kosminsky and starring Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis. "Wolf Hall" won a Golden Globe(R) for Best Television Limited Series and two BAFTAS for Best Drama Series and Best Leading Actor for Mark Rylance. From seminal drama "The Lakes" in the 1990s to "The White Queen," "Inspector George Gently" and "The Village" today, Company Pictures continues to produce and deliver high quality, distinguished drama that attracts the best talent the UK has to offer. Since October 2004 Company has been part of All3Media.

About All3Media

All3Media is a leading independent television, film and digital production and distribution companies. The All3Media group is comprised of 21 production and distribution companies from across the UK, Europe, New Zealand and USA including Apollo20, Bentley Productions, Company Pictures, IDTV, John Stanley Productions, Lime Pictures, Lion Television, Little Dot Studios, Maverick Television, MME Moviement, Neal Street Productions, New Pictures, North One Television, Objective Productions, Optomen, One Potato Two Potato, Seven Stories, South Pacific Pictures, Studio Lambert, All3Media America and All3Media International. All3Media is owned jointly between Discovery Communications and Liberty Global.