“Banshee”: New Cinemax action series begins production

Actor Antony Starr, from the film "Wish You Were Here," poses for a portrait during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Victoria Will)

The HBO/Cinemax action series “Banshee” has started production in and around Charlotte, N.C. on 10 hour-long episodes that are scheduled to premiere on Cinemax in 2013.

Antony Starr, (Australian series “Rush”) leads “Banshee” as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who takes on the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., where he continues his criminal activities while being hunted by the gangsters he betrayed years earlier.

Other cast members, according to a news release, include Ivana Milicevic (“Charlie’s Angels”) as Carrie Hopewell, a notorious jewel thief who now lives in Banshee under an assumed identity with her new family, who know nothing of her past; Ulrich Thomsen (“The Celebration”) as Proctor, an intimidating, wealthy local businessman who believes he is above the law; Frankie Faison (“The Good Wife,”) as Sugar Bates, a wise, powerful former boxer and ex-con who now owns the local watering hole; Rus Blackwell (“Burn Notice”) as Gulf War hero Gordon Hopewell, Banshee’s district attorney, who is married to Carrie; Ryann Shane (“Blue Bloods”) as Deva Hopewell, Carrie and Gordon’s rebellious daughter; and Ben Cross (“Star Trek”) as Mr. Rabbit, a ruthless Ukrainian gangster who has been hunting Lucas and Carrie, his former top thieves, for 15 years.