Lifetime’s highly-anticipated scripted series “UnREAL” (#UnREALTV), starring Shiri Appleby (“Girls”) and Constance Zimmer (“House of Cards,” “Entourage”), will premiere Monday, June 1st at 10pm ET/PT. This provocative drama, that gives a fictitious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program, makes its world premiere today at SXSW at 3:30pm CT in the Vimeo theater in the Austin Convention Center. “UnREAL” was created by Marti Noxon (“Girlfriends Guide to Divorce,” “Mad Men,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro. It was inspired by Shapiro’s 2013 SXSW award-winning independent short film “Sequin Raze.”
Set against the backdrop of the hit dating competition show Everlasting, “UnREAL” is led by flawed heroine Rachel Goldberg (Appleby), a young producer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with, and among, the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage that the program’s dispassionate executive producer, Quinn King (Zimmer), demands. What ensues is an eye-opening look at what happens in the outrageous world of unscripted television, where being a contestant can be vicious and being a producer a whole other reality.
“UnREAL” also stars Craig Bierko (“Damages”) as Everlasting’s eccentric creator, Chet; and Freddie Stroma (“Pitch Perfect”) as the dating show’s handsome and intelligent suitor, Adam Cromwell. Josh Kelly (“One Life to Live”) plays Jeremy, a cameraman who is Rachel’s ex-boyfriend, while Siobhan Williams (“Black Box”) is Lizzie, Jeremy’s current fiancée and on-set makeup artist. Everlasting’s contestants include Grace, portrayed by Nathalie Kelley (“The Fast and the Furious”), who immediately wins Adam’s heart; Anna, played by Johanna Braddy (“Shameless”), who is classy and shrewd, with her eye on the prize; Faith, a sensitive and vulnerable tomboy from the South portrayed by Breeda Wool (“Betas”); and Mary, played by Ashley Scott (“Jericho”), a gorgeous single mom who has been unlucky in love. Arielle Kebbel (“The Vampire Diaries”) will guest star as Britney, a contestant who has no filter and isn’t on Everlasting to make any friends.
“UnREAL” is produced by A+E Studios. Noxon executive produces while Shapiro serves as supervising producer. Sally DeSipio (“Do Over”) and Robert M. Sertner (“Revenge”) executive produce and Stacy Rukeyser (“Twisted”) co-executive produces. “UnREAL” is the first scripted series fully produced and distributed by A+E Studios. A+E Networks will handle global sales for “UnREAL.” Ten episodes have been ordered.
