Epix’s forthcoming Patrick Dempsey-fronted thriller The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair will have its world premiere at the inaugural Canneseries TV event. The MGM-produced drama, which is based on Joël Dicker’s, is directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, who directed by Oscar winner Black and White in Color. The show will launch out of competition on 7 April 2018 following the French TV festival’s official competition ceremony before launching on the U.S cable network and French broadcaster TF1.

The 10-part drama, which is produced by The Handmaid’s Tale producer in association with Eagle Pictures and Barbary Films, stars New Girl’s Damon Wayans Jr, Snowden’s Ben Schnetzer, Let The Right One In’s Kristine Froseth and Designated Survivor’s Virginia Madsen. Masters Of Sex duo Lyn Greene and Richard Levine are writing.

The Hitchcockian psychological thriller has elements of horror and murder mystery and is set in Maine. It follows a literary icon, Harry Quebert, who finds himself indicted for murder after the body of a young girl is found on his property.

The show originated after Eagle Pictures chairman Tarak Ben Ammar partnered with Youth producer Fabio Conversi, who optioned the rights through Barbary Films. Canneseries will launch alongside MipTV and will feature 10 new series in a range of genres as well as a full programme of 200 screenings across the port city aimed at the public. The event, initiated by Cannes Mayor David Lisnard, is run by Artistic Director and former Apple iTunes exec Albin Lewi.