ACADEMY AWARD(R) WINNER ANNA PAQUIN TO STAR IN ORIGINAL SCRIPTED TELEVISION SERIES "FLACK" FOR POP TV

Network Delves Further into Scripted Fare with Hour-long Comedic Drama, Which Heads into Production This Month in London

LOS ANGELES - March 12, 2018 - The world of high-stakes, celebrity-driven public relations is the subject of the original television dramedy FLACK, ordered by Pop TV and starring Academy Award-winning, Golden Globe-winning and Emmy(R)-nominated actress Anna Paquin ("The Piano," "True Blood," "X-Men").

FLACK is executive produced by Jimmy Mulville ("Episodes") and Helen Williams of Hat Trick Productions and Anna Paquin, Cerise Hallam Larkin, Stephen Moyer and Mark Larkin of CASM Films. The six-episode limited series was created by Oliver Lansley ("Whites," "Alice's Adventures Underground"), who will also executive produce. FLACK is directed by the Oscar(R)-nominated Peter Cattaneo ("The Full Monty," "Rev.") and produced by Mark Talbot.

Heading into production this month in London, FLACK stars Paquin as the sharp and witty publicity maven, Robyn, who's an expert at her craft but a complete self-saboteur when it comes to her personal life. Robyn's work as a crisis PR strategist is fast-paced and unpredictable, as she counsels high-profile personalities in entertainment, fashion and sports.

"Oliver Lansley has written six of the best scripts I've ever read," says Paquin. "He walks that fine line between intense character-driven drama and exceptionally intelligent humor. My character, Robyn, exists in a world where there are no moral absolutes and humor is used as a sharply executed defense mechanism to maintain the illusion of perpetual control. I am incredibly excited about tackling the creative complexities of FLACK as an actress and for my company CASM's collaboration with Pop."

FLACK is equal parts hilarity and heart, reflecting the brutal reality and complexities of modern life where problems can go viral in an instant. With PR serving as the perfect backdrop, FLACK centers on an American PR executive living in London (Paquin) who must figure out how to make the best of bad situations and somehow manage to get out unscathed.

"FLACK is extremely poignant, smartly exploring an age in which for better or worse, news happens in a breath," said Justin Rosenblatt, EVP of Original Programming, Pop. "This series captures the often funny and sometimes damaging results that ensue, with Anna Paquin as the dream lead who brings it all to life."

FLACK is a co-production with UKTV's entertainment channel, W.

About Pop:

Fans don't sit at the outskirts of pop culture making snarky comments. They live right smack in the middle of it, sharing, creating and connecting their passions with others. Pop gives fans a dedicated channel that loves being a fan as much as they do. A channel filled with optimism, humor, excitement and a passion for the great times in life - those you remember and those still to come.

Pop is a joint venture of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B). The partnership combines CBS' programming, production and marketing assets with Lionsgate's resources in motion pictures, television and digitally delivered content. Pop's ownership structure is comprised of the company with the #1 broadcast network and many of the top first-run syndication series and the studio responsible for the worldwide box office phenomenon "La La Land," winner of six Academy Awards, the breakout smash "Wonder," the blockbuster "Hunger Games," "Twilight Saga," "John Wick" and "Now You See Me" franchises and acclaimed television series including "Orange is the New Black," "Nashville," "Casual," "Dear White People" and "Greenleaf."