Julia Ormond to Star in Lifetime Network Movie "The Wronged Man" 2/6/09

Acclaimed Actress Julia Ormond to Star in Lifetime Movie Network's The Wronged Man

True-Life Drama Premieres in November 2009

GALE ANNE HURD to Executive Produce and TOM MCLOUGHLIN to Direct Teleplay by TEENA BOOTH for Sony Pictures Television

LOS ANGELES, California Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned actress Julia Ormond (Legends of the Fall, Sabrina) will headline The Wronged Man, an unforgettable story of justice and redemption premiering on Lifetime Movie Network in November 2009. Mahershalalhashbaz Ali (The 4400), Ormond's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button co-star, also joins the cast as an African-American husband and father convicted of raping a young girl. The film is based on the true story of an unlikely friendship between paralegal Janet Gregory (Ormond) and Calvin Willis (Ali) as they fight to overturn his sentence and restore faith in the justice system. The Wronged Man, from executive producer Gale Anne Hurd's (The Incredible Hulk) Valhalla Motion Pictures and Sony Pictures Television, will begin production this month.

ABOUT THE WRONGED MAN

Janet Gregory (Ormond), a single mother with a haunting past, is a paralegal struggling to overcome doubts about Calvin Willis (Ali), an African-American husband and father wrongfully accused of raping a neighborhood girl. Eventually convinced of his innocence, Janet takes Calvin's pro bono case and wages a dramatic and stormy 22-year battle with the justice system that ultimately redeems an unjustly accused man and cements a life-long friendship.

The Wronged Man will be produced by Valhalla Motion Pictures and Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime Movie Network. Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator franchise, Armageddon, Aliens) will executive produce. Gary Ventimiglia (Punisher: War Zone) will co-executive produce and Tom McLoughlin (Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal) will direct the teleplay by Teena Booth (the upcoming Natalee Holloway, Sex and Lies in Sin City: The Ted Binion Scandal).

ABOUT THE CAST

Julia Ormond was born in England as the second of five children. She showed interest in acting at a young age and went on to pursue her passion as a drama student at London's Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Following graduation, she landed her first professional work in TV commercials and then a series of plays. Ormond won the London Drama Critic's Award in 1989 for her role in Faith, Hope and Charity. In 1994, she starred opposite Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall, a breakout performance that grabbed Hollywood's attention. She was then cast in Audrey Hepburn's role in the remake of the classic film Sabrina, starring alongside screen icon Harrison Ford. Ormond has since starred in many notable films, most recently 2008's Academy Award(R) nominated motion picture The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Mahershalalhashbaz Ali is best known for his portrayal of Richard Tyler on the USA Network series The 4400. Having been introduced to acting in college, Ali made his professional stage debut performing for one season with the California Shakespeare Festival. Soon afterwards, he was accepted to New York University, where he received a Masters degree in acting. Ali's first television role was on NBC's Crossing Jordan. He was later cast as a series regular on the ABC drama Threat Matrix. Additional television credits include CSI, NYPD Blue, The Haunted and The Handler. Among his feature film credits are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Umi's Heart.

SOURCE Lifetime Television