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From the tropical beaches of Thailand to the towering peaks of the Swiss Alps, the Cinemax Original action series, STRIKE BACK returns for its ten-episode, fourth and final season the same day as the US – Saturday, August 1 at 11pm on CINEMAX (Astro Ch 412), with one new episode airing every Saturday at the same time.
Starting August 4 to 18, non-subscribers in *19 Asian territories including Malaysia, can watch the first episode of this season for free on cinemaxasia.com and HBO Asia’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/HBOAsia).
When Michael Stonebridge and Damien Scott of the elite British intelligence undercover unit Section 20 set out to crack a missing-persons case in Bangkok, they quickly realize that what seems to be a simple kidnapping is actually the first step in a massive terrorist plot with global implications. Stonebridge, Scott and the rest of their team soon find themselves crisscrossing Asia and Europe as they battle Japanese Yakuza, Russian Mafia, cyberterrorists, elite mercenaries and other deadly forces.
Philip Winchester (“24: Live Another Day”) returns as Michael Stonebridge and Sullivan Stapleton (“300: The Rise of an Empire”) returns as Damien Scott in the high-octane, action-fuelled series.
Shot on location in Hungary and Thailand, this final season of STRIKE BACK features nonstop twists and turns, as Scott (who’s also dealing with a life-changing personal matter) and Stonebridge find themselves in the eye of an escalating international political storm.
Also returning are Robson Green (“Wire in the Blood”), Singaporean-Brit Michelle Lukes (“The Lost Legion”) and Milauna Jackson (“Aquarius”) as Scott and Stonebridge’s Section 20 colleagues.
New cast members include Malaysian actress Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II”), Dustin Clare (“Spartacus”), Will Yun Lee (“The Wolverine”), James Wilby (“Gosford Park”), Adrian Paul (“Highlander”), Joseph Gatt (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Christian Antidormi (“Spartacus: War of the Damned”) and British mixed martial arts champion and UFC fighter Michael Bisping.
Other new cast members include Michael McElhatton (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Max Beesley (“Suits”), Tim McInnerny (“Notting Hill”), Leo Gregory (“Tristan and Isolde”), Mark Griffin (“Doctor Who”), Wolf Kahler (“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”), Andrew Pleavin (“300: Rise of an Empire”), Eliza Hope Bennett (“Nanny McPhee”) and Masa Yamaguchi (“The Wolverine”).
Season four episodes are directed by Michael J. Bassett (“Power”), who also serves as co-executive producer; Julian Holmes (“MI-5”); and Brendan Maher (“The Passing Bells”); and written by Bassett, Jack Lothian (“Doc Martin”), James Dormer (“Outcast”), Richard Zajdli (“Tatau”), Ed Whitmore (“Silent Witness” and Tim Vaughan (“The Last Detective”).
Episode S401
Premieres Saturday, August 1 at 11pm on CINEMAX
Other playtimes on Cinemax: August 3 at 12.30am, August 5 at 11pm
On the eve of an historic nuclear-weapons summit with a North Korean delegation, Robin Foster (Tim McInnerny), the British Ambassador to Thailand, learns that his daughter Chloe (Eliza Hope
Bennett) has been kidnapped by a ruthless Bangkok gang led by expatriate Ray McQueen (Max Beesley). Racing against the clock to locate her, Scott (Sullivan Stapleton), Stonebridge (Philip Winchester) and their Section 20 team – including boss Phillip Locke (Robson Green) and agents Julie Richmond (Michelle Lukes) and Kim Martinez (Milauna Jackson) – track the thugs through the canals and streets of Thailand. When their efforts stall, Foster ends up following his own instincts, despite the chance that things could get worse before they get better.
Written by Michael J. Bassett, James Dormer & Tim Vaughan; directed by Michael J. Bassett.
Episode S402
Premieres Saturday, August 8 at 11pm on CINEMAX
Other playtimes on Cinemax: August 10 at 12.55am, August 12 at 11pm
In the aftermath of the bomb at the British Embassy, Section 20 must find out who Ray McQueen is really working for. They soon discover that they are going up against their deadliest foe ever.
Written by Michael J. Bassett, James Dormer and Tim Vaughan; directed by Michael J. Bassett.
Episode S403
Premieres Saturday, August 15 at 11pm on CINEMAX
Other playtimes on Cinemax: August 17 at 12.30am, August 19 at 11pm
Section 20 discover that Mei Foster (Michelle Yeoh), the ambassador’s wife, is a North Korean agent (real name Li-Na) who is in business with the Yakuza. As the Yakuza launch attacks on Section 20, the team must figure out what the Japanese gangsters are doing for Mei before it is too late.
Written by James Dormer; directed by Julian Holmes.
Episode S404
Premieres Saturday, August 22 at 11pm on CINEMAX
Other playtimes on Cinemax: August 24 at 1am, August 26 at 11pm
After the team discovers the true nature of Li-Na’s rogue plans, they shift into high gear to stop the deal between the Yakuza and Office 39 from going ahead. But when their mission collides with that of two private military contractors, things get a lot more complicated.
Written by James Dormer; directed by Julian Holmes.
CINEMAX’s four seasons of STRIKE BACK are a continuation of the original six-episode series “Strike Back,” which aired on Sky TV in 2010, and are based on the novels by Chris Ryan, the pen name of a real-life former British Special Forces operative.
TV Guide said that STRIKE BACK “blazed a new trail in hardcore pulp fiction” and Craveonline.com hailed it as “still the gold standard for TV action.” Redeyechicago.com said, “Every season ‘Strike Back’
raises the stakes,” and New York’s Daily News observed that season three returned “with a bigger bang than ever.” The Huffington Post called it “well made and damn fun”.
The series was nominated for an Emmy® (for Main Title Design) and an American Society of Cinematographers Award, and received Best Big Bang Stunts & Effects honors from the Royal Television Society. IGN nominated the series Best TV Action Series two years in a row.
STRIKE BACK is part of the growing lineup of Cinemax Original series, which this year also features the Emmy® winner “Banshee” and the Peabody Award winner “The Knick.”
STRIKE BACK is a Cinemax Presentation in association with British Sky Broadcasting Limited; a Left Bank Pictures Production; executive producer, Andy Harries; co-executive producers, Michael J. Bassett, James Dormer; co-producer: Bill Shephard; producers, Selwyn Roberts (episodes 401-404), Chris Thompson (episodes 405-410); series producers, Michael Casey, Sharon Hughff.
*19 Asian territories:
Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
About HBO ASIA
Singapore-based HBO Asia brings the best of Hollywood to Asia first through its exclusive licensing deals with major Hollywood and independent studios including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate. HBO Asia has proprietary and award-winning HBO and HBO Asia Original programmes that are produced exclusively for HBO viewers. Wholly owned by HBO (a Time Warner company), HBO Asia reaches 23 territories across Asia and offers a bouquet of channels and services including 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels in standard-definition and high-definition – HBO, HBO SIGNATURE, HBO FAMILY, HBO HITS, CINEMAX and RED – as well as HBO GO and HBO ON DEMAND. HBO Asia is also the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst in Asia. Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.
