COPPER: BBC America's First Scripted Series Premieres August 19

In a time when disorder and mayhem were the law of the land, Kevin Corcoran was New York City’s finest. Welcome to BBC America’s first original scripted series, COPPER, premiering with 10 episodes Sunday, August 19, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

From the brilliant minds of Academy Award®-winner Barry Levinson, Emmy®-winner Tom Fontana and Academy Award®-nominee Will Rokos, this gripping drama, filled with intrigue, corruption, mystery and murder follows Detective Kevin Corcoran – a rugged Irish immigrant cop – as he seeks justice for the powerless in the notorious immigrant neighbourhood of Five Points.

Bonded by battle to two Civil War compatriots – the wayward son of a wealthy industrialist and an African-American physician who secretly assists the forensic investigations – Corcoran is thrust into the contrasting worlds of elegant and corrupt Fifth Avenue, and the emerging African- American community in Northern Manhattan. The three men share a secret from the battlefield that inextricably links their lives forever.

The series is created by Emmy®-winner Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz, Borgia), Academy Award®-nominee Will Rokos (Monster’s Ball, SOUTHLAND) and executive produced by Academy Award®-winner Barry Levinson (Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, You Don’t Know Jack) and Cineflix Studios President, Christina Wayne (Broken Trail and executive in charge of MAD MEN), together with Fontana and Rokos.

“It was especially important for all of us to make a show that nobody’s seen before,” said Co-creator and Executive Producer, Tom Fontana. “This isn’t going to be a re-tread of some Western or a pale imitation of Scorsese’s movie. COPPER is going to look different, smell different, sound different. And the cast we've put together is extraordinary.”

Executive Producer, Barry Levinson adds:  “One of the fascinating things about working on COPPER is realizing that the issues our characters faced in America at that time are very much the same today.  The friction between the haves, who live Uptown with all this wealth and privilege, and the have-nots, living in extreme poverty, was staggering.”

"COPPER captures the New York City immigrant experience in groundbreaking dramatic fashion, providing the perfect subject matter for BBC America's first original scripted drama", says Perry Simon, General Manager, BBC America. "This is the fifth series I have had the privilege to work on with Levinson and Fontana, and with COPPER, Barry and Tom are at the top of their game."

Set in 1864 New York City, Corcoran returns home from the Civil War to find his daughter has been murdered and his wife has disappeared. Distraught and searching for answers, Corcoran’s relentless quest to find justice for his family fuels his pursuit to help the unfortunate residents of Five Points. Assisted by Sixth Precinct partner and friend, Detective Francis Maguire and Detective Andrew O’Brien, Corcoran goes the extra mile when investigating a crime, much to the dismay of his superiors.

More often than not, Corcoran’s investigations lead him to the steps of the elite citizens of Fifth Avenue. When a young girl is murdered in Five Points, he finds himself at the home of trusted friend and Manhattan aristocrat, Robert Morehouse. Mustered out of the 71st regiment with Corcoran, Morehouse feels more at home with the immigrants in Five Points than with high-society types. When Corcoran digs into the girl’s murder, Morehouse sets him on the trail of those who believe their status puts them above the law.

Corcoran’s scientific methods of deduction when solving a case are solely the work of an African-American comrade, Doctor Matthew Freeman. But, Freeman’s work must be kept secret as it’s sure to be invalidated simply on the grounds of his race. When Freeman moves his wife to the up-and-coming African-American community of Carmansville, Corcoran’s investigative territory becomes wider.

Whether saving the downtrodden in Five Points, guarding the elites of Manhattan, or protecting the civil liberties of African-Americans, Kevin Corcoran is a valiant and tenacious detective intent on delivering justice for the powerless.

Led by Tom Weston-Jones (MI-5) as Detective Kevin Corcoran, the cast includes Franka Potente (The Bourne Supremacy, Run Lola Run) as Eva Heissen, a shrewd businesswoman and the Madame of Eva’s Paradise; Kyle Schmid (BEING HUMAN, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) as Robert Morehouse, a handsome bon vivant and part of Manhattan aristocracy; Anastasia Griffith (ONCE UPON A TIME) 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 Sixth Precinct; Dylan Taylor (COVERT AFFAIRS) as Andrew O’Brien, colleague and companion to Corcoran and Maguire; Kiara Glasco (Angel Duty) as Annie Reilly, a young runaway forced to grow up too quickly; Tanya Fischer (THE DEFENDERS) as Molly Stuart, an ambitious courtesan; and Tessa Thompson (HEROES) as Sara Freeman, the fearful and anxious wife of Dr. Freeman.

COPPER joins BBC America’s slate of groundbreaking dramas including LUTHER starring Golden Globe®-winner Idris Elba, the Golden Globe® nominated mini-series THE HOURS, Whitechapel and other DRAMAVILLE titles – Inside Men, White Heat and the upcoming Ripper Street.