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.

Premium Cable Network Epix ordered the murder suspense series The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair. The 10-part television series event will star Patrick Dempsey, Damon Wayans Jr and Virginia Madsen. The Harry Quebert Affair is based on the bestselling European novel by Joël Dicker.

Every episode will be directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud (Black and White in Color, Seven Years in Tibet, Black Gold), in his television debut. The pilot script and several episodes were written by Lyn Greene and Richard Levine. Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen plays Tamara Quinn, “Jenny Quinn’s mother and the owner of a local diner who learns of a secret about Quebert.”

“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.”

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair is executive produced by Annaud, Tarak Ben Ammar, Fabio Conversi , Greene, and Levine.The series is produced by MGM Television and Eagle Pictures with MGM serving as the lead studio.

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair will be the second MGM Television produced scripted series for EPIX and the first project since MGM completed the transaction to acquire EPIX in May.  MGM Television, Eagle Pictures and Barbary Films started production on The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.