19 August 2012 on BBC America and 26 August 2012 on Showcase
Copper, set in 1860s New York City, will premiere Sunday, 19 August at 9:00pm ET/PT on BBC America with domestic premiere on Showcase a week later (for some o so bloody dumb reason probably to do with money).
The 10 episode first season centres on Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones, Spooks), an intense, rugged Irish-American cop working the city’s notorious Five Points neighbourhood. Corcoran is struggling to maintain his moral compass in a turbulent world, while on an emotional and relentless quest to learn the truth about the disappearance of his wife and the death of his daughter. His friendship with two Civil War compatriots – the wayward son of a wealthy industrialist and an African American physician who secretly assists Corcoran with his detective work – takes him to the contrasting worlds of elegant Fifth Avenue and an emerging African-American community in rural northern Manhattan. The three men share a secret from their experience on the battlefield that inextricably links their lives forever.
Tanya Fischer (The Defenders, Life on Mars (US)) joins the cast of Copper as Molly Stuart, an ambitious courtesan at Eva’s Paradise. The previously announced cast includes Franka Potente (The Bourne Supremacy, Run Lola Run) as Eva Heissen, a shrewd businesswoman and the madam of Eva’s Paradise, Kyle Schmid (Blood Ties, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) as Robert Morehouse, a handsome bon vivant and part of Manhattan aristocracy, Anastasia Griffith (Royal Pains, Damages) as the sophisticated and spirited Elizabeth Haverford, Ato Essandoh (Damages)as Doctor Matthew Freeman, who secretly assists Corcoran with his work, Kevin Ryan (Tripping Tommy) as Detective Francis Maguire, Corcoran’s closet friend and partner in the 6th Precinct; Dylan Taylor (Covert Affairs) as Andrew O’Brien, colleague and companion to Corcoran and Maguire, Ron White (The Line) as Captain Ciaran Joseph Sullivan, who is more often concerned about his reputation than seeking justice for victims, Kiara Glasco (Angel Duty) as Annie Reilly, a young runaway forced to grow up too quickly, Tessa Thompson (Heroes, veronica MARS) as Sara Freeman, the fearful and anxious wife of Dr. Freeman, and David W. Keeley (rookie blue) as Sergeant Padraic Byrnes, a corrupt and contemptuous cop.
The series is created by Emmy® winner Tom Fontana (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Streets, St. Elsewhere) and Academy Award® nominee Will Rokos (Monster’s Ball, Southland) and among the executive producers are Academy Award® winner Barry Levinson (Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, You Don’t Know Jack), Cineflix Media Co-CEO Glen Salzman, Cineflix Studios President Christina Wayne (Broken Trail and executive in charge of Mad Men), Fontana, and Rokos.
What sets this series apart from most on tv is its pedigree. The creators are American. The show was commissioned by BBC America. The show is being made by Cineflix and Shaw Meda, two Canadian companies. The show is being made in Toronto. The show is set in historic Manhattan. It isn't a common thing for an American broadcaster to turn to Canadian companies to produce a show for them.