SPOTLIGHT ON DISCOVERY'S & RIDLEY SCOTT'S HISTORICAL MINI SERIES 'KLONDIKE' WITH RICHARD MADDEN, TIM ROTH, ABBIE CORNISH, AUGUSTUS PREW, JOHNNY SIMMONS, SAM SHEPARD

DISCOVERY'S 'KLONDIKE'

 NEW HISTORICAL MINI TV SERIES

Another new historical series starting this month on television, beside BLACK SAILS and THE MUSKETEERS, is Discovery's scripted mini series KLONDIKE which will start digging its way into the small screens January 20th starring our dearest King of the North Richard Madden produced by Ridley Scott!

THE STORY OF 'KLONDIKE'

 MAN VERSUS NATURE

Discovery’s first scripted mini-series, based on Charlotte Gray’s book 'Gold Diggers: Striking It Rich in the Klondike', brings to life the story of six strangers and their collective fight for survival and wealth in a small frontier town in the remote KLONDIKE following the lives of two childhood best friends, Bill and Epstein, in the late 1890s as they flock to the gold rush capital in the untamed Yukon Territory. This man-versus-nature tale places our heroes in a land full of undiscovered wealth, but ravaged by harsh conditions, unpredictable weather and desperate, dangerous characters including greedy businessmen, seductive courtesans and native tribes witnessing the destruction of their people and land by opportunistic entrepreneurs.

BILL HASKELL

PLAYED BY RICHARD MADDEN

Dreading a lifetime spent working behind a desk, Bill Haskell sets out to carve a place for himself in the booming times of the KLONDIKE Gold Rush. He and his best friend, Byron Epstein, leave New York City and make the months long journey to Dawson City and the gold fields of the KLONDIKE. Handsome, intelligent and ambitious, Bill catches the attention of Belinda Mulrooney, one of Dawson’s most prominent figures. After some early trouble in town, he stakes his claim out on the creeks and sets about the business of mining gold. It isn’t long before Bill becomes consumed with finding gold and leverages everything he owns on the promise of a pay streak. He soon realizes that only a lucky few will strike it rich and as winter sets in, those lucky few become prey for the unlucky. To survive, Bill must fight desperate men, his own lust for revenge and the mighty, unforgiving KLONDIKE.

BELINDA MULROONEY

 PLAYED BY ABBIE CORNISH

 Belinda Mulrooney knows that in 1897 the only place where a woman can make her mark and maintain her independence is in a town like Dawson City, a place so isolated and remote that gender is an afterthought to people in need of shelter and supplies to stay alive. A shrewd businesswoman, Belinda made it to Dawson early and began selling the goods she brought with her to the miners. With the money she made, she doubled down and began buying businesses, then real estate. By the time the KLONDIKE Gold Rush was in full swing, she was set up nicely as the hotel, restaurant and sawmill magnate of Dawson. While building her dream property, The Fairview Hotel, soon to be largest and finest hotel in all of the KLONDIKE, two men arrive in Dawson that upset her focus and her power – Bill Haskell and The Count.

THE WICKED COUNT

PLAYED BY TIM ROTH

 A dangerous man of questionable nobility, The Count comes to Dawson and upends Belinda's world when he makes a play to be the new land baron of Dawson City. He sets his sights on a property owned by Father Judge, the only priest in town, and makes it clear that Judge’s relationship with the church won’t stop him from taking what he wants. In lawless Dawson, The Count’s wickedness knows no bounds and he employees a posse of murderous outlaws to make sure his desires are met.

BYRON EPSTEIN

 PLAYED BY AUGUSTUS PREW

Byron Epstein has an influence over his good friend Bill Haskell that changes both their lives. With his cavalier, devil-may-care attitude, Byron sees a world of opportunities in the KLONDIKE and it’s his prompting that starts the two friends on their dramatic journey across treacherous terrain and into Dawson City.

SABINE

 PLAYED BY CONOR LESLIE 

Beautiful Sabine charms her way to Dawson City looking to trade on her looks and make a quick killing as a courtesan. But the dangerous  boomtown has a way of turning dreams into dust and her world spirals into a place darker than she bargained for. It isn’t until an unlikely player intercedes that Sabine finds any chance at redemption.

JACK LONDON

PLAYED BY JOHNNY SIMMONS

Jack London is in Dawson for the stories and the adventure. Jack envisions himself a famous writer, gathering the stories that will make him a legend. He spends most of his time drinking, listening and  writing. He makes it out of Dawson and back to fame and fortune, but the KLONDIKE takes her cut – he arrived at 19 and after one season leaves a toothless alcoholic looking 30.