BLACKLIST SEASON 2 DIGITAL PRESS KIT OVERVIEW For decades, ex-government agent Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader, “The Office,” “Boston Legal”) has been one of the FBI’s Most Wanted fugitives. Brokering shadowy deals for criminals across the globe, Red was known by many as “The Concierge of Crime.” Last season, he mysteriously surrendered to the FBI but now the FBI work for him as he identifies a “blacklist” of politicians, mobsters, spies and international terrorists. He will help catch them all… with the caveat that Elizabeth “Liz” Keen (Megan Boone, “Law & Order: Los Angeles”) continues to work as his partner. Red will teach Liz to think like a criminal and “see the bigger picture”… whether she wants to or not. Also starring are Diego Klattenhoff (“Homeland”), Harry Lennix (“Man of Steel”), Amir Arison (“Girls”) and Mozhan Marno (“House of Cards”). Jon Bokenkamp (“The Call,” “Taking Lives”), John Eisendrath (“Alias”), John Davis (“Predator,” "I, Robot," "Chronicle"), John Fox and Michael Watkins (“The X-Files”) serve as executive producers. “The Blacklist” is a production of Sony Pictures Television and Davis Entertainment. EXTRAS WHAT THE CRITICS SAID ABOUT SEASON 1 Entertainment Weekly “…it will win you over by being very good very quickly at exactly what it wants to be. “ “James Spader lets the charisma rip…” “…Megan Boone sparks nicely with Spader and confidently claims the heroic center of this action packed mystery thriller.” “THE BLACKLIST starts with a well-produced bang that’ll hook you with the promise that it can be as entertaining as its influences.” People Magazine 3 out 4 stars “…pleasurable, cheeky…” “James Spader can play snarkiness, pomposity and arrogance all the while purring his lines with an intimidating smoothness—and never so much as winking at as that he’s putting us on.” “The second episode… allowed Spader more fun trapping the villain of the week, and Boone’s performance toughened…” Associated Press “…an action-intrigue drama with even more tricks up its sleeve than wily Hannibal Lecter.” “Red and Liz emerge as the fall's most refreshing odd couple, on the season's most promising new drama.” “One reason THE BLACKLIST works so well: The producers locked up James Spader to star as Reddington.” “Spader has never been better” “THE BLACKLIST premiere ends with tantalizing questions that dwarf the immediate crisis. Getting to know this series' characters should be fun for weeks, or even years, to come.” USA Today, Robert Bianco, 9/13/13 Named “Best New Drama” as featured in the Fall TV Preview: The top 10 new shows “James Spader – whose knowing, dryly witty star turn as Red transforms what could have been a routine procedural into the new season's best pilot.” “You’ll find the plot should give the series plenty of room to grow. And Spader, plenty of room to play.” Variety, Brian Lowry, 9/17/13 “Creating a toothy vehicle for James Spader, few series can boast such a compelling central figure…” “Spader has always been a particularly interesting actor, and he’s well suited to this sort of twisted figure, where there is so much going on behind those eyes.” “THE BLACKLIST probably ranks as one of the fall’s more promising new network hours.” TheHollywoodReporter.com “Spader is fantastically engrossing as Reddington, speaking with calm authority and asserting himself immediately as in control” “Megan Boone did an admirable job keeping pace with Spader's tour de force in the premiere… She's purposeful and strong.” LA Times “But the ace in the hole is Spader. One look at that face—those knowing eyes half-veiled by dropping lids, that tucked in smirk of a split smile wide with genius mirth—and you’re in.” “[THE BLACKLIST] …is a heady blend of character study and high-octane procedural.” “… they had me at James Spader. Radiating a kind of furious patience, he chews through scenes and scenery with epicurean delight, and then delicately wipes his mouth with the sleeve of whoever is standing next to him.“ “THE BLACKLIST set up is promising, the writing is clever enough and Boone hits her marks like a pro. But Spader? He's having a blast, and ensuring that we do the same.” Wall Street Journal “… stylish explosiveness…” “As the all-knowing, malignantly charming Reddington, Spader is clearly having a ripping good time —the series is all his and rightly.” “… a strong beginning… one that reaches undeniably satisfying levels of menace.” NOTES The Blacklist is produced by Davis Entertainment Company in association with Sony Pictures Television. Distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television. CAST JAMES SPADER Raymond James Spader stars as Raymond "Red" Reddington on NBC's action thriller "The Blacklist." Some of Spader's credits include Steven Soderbergh's "sex, lies and videotape," for which he received the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival; David Cronenberg's "Crash," which received the Special Jury Prize at Cannes; and Steven Shainberg's "Secretary," which won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature. His other film credits include "2 Days in the Valley," "Wolf" and "Less Than Zero." He starred in David Mamet's Broadway play "Race" in 2010. Spader starred in Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks feature "Lincoln," opposite Daniel Day Lewis last year, while also starring on NBC's hit comedy "The Office." Most recently Spader shot the feature film "The Homesman," starring Hillary Swank and Tommy Lee Jones (who also directed) and Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Age of Ultron" in which he plays the title character Ultron. From 2004-08, Spader won three Emmy Awards for his seminal role as shameless attorney Alan Shore on "The Practice" and "Boston Legal," making him the only actor to win consecutive Emmys playing the same character on two different series. Spader currently resides in Los Angeles. MEGAN BOONE Elizabeth Keen Megan Boone stars as rookie FBI agent Elizabeth Keen on NBC's high-action government crime thriller "The Blacklist." Boone made her feature-film debut in the Lionsgate cult hit "My Bloody Valentine," directed by Patrick Lussier. Boone also played a supporting role in HBO Films' "Sex and the City 2," starring opposite Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Noth and Cynthia Nixon. Her other film credits include "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Step Up Revolution." Boone has starred in numerous independent films, including Stephen Elliott's "About Cherry," opposite James Franco, Heather Graham and Dev Patel. She also appeared in Adele Romanski's deconstruction of a relationship drama, "Leave Me Like You Found Me," for which she won the Best Actor Award at the 2012 GenArt Film Festival. She will next be seen in the Universal ensemble comedy "Welcome to the Jungle," alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kristen Schaal, Rob Huebel and Adam Brody. On television, Boone played the role of Junior Deputy District Attorney Lauren Stanton on the NBC series "Law & Order: Los Angeles." An East Coast native, Boone studied with Jane Alexander and Ed Sherin at Florida's Asolo Theater. Meanwhile, Boone spent her time workshopping with playwrights to develop new material under the guidance of Tony Award winner Mark Medoff. In 2008, Boone produced and starred in the Charles L. Mee play "Limonade Tous Les Jours." She received two L.A. Weekly Theater Awards for her performance — Best Comedy Ensemble and Best Performance by an Actress in a Comedy. DIEGO KLATTENHOFF Donald Ressler Diego Klattenhoff stars as FBI agent Donald Ressler on NBC's high-action government crime thriller "The Blacklist." With distinguished roles in a variety of projects, Klattenhoff most recently was seen in the blockbuster sci-fi flick "Pacific Rim," directed by Guillermo del Toro, and starred as a series regular on the Golden Globewinning and Emmy-nominated series "Homeland" as Maj. Mike Faber, best friend to Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis). Prior to his role in "Homeland," Klattenhoff's big break came when he was cast to play Shane Oman in the cult classic movie "Mean Girls," where he collaborated with Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Lindsey Lohan. Since then, Klattenhoff has consistently worked on several films, including: "The Dry Land," "Lucky Number Slevin" and "The Informers." Klattenhoff is currently starring in the just-released sci-fi thriller "Pacific Rim," directed by Guillermo del Toro. The film is set in a world where soldiers piloting giant robots battle against monsters that have mysteriously risen from five miles beneath the ocean. On the small screen in addition to "Homeland," Klattenhoff has had memorable guest and recurring character appearances in series such as "Men in Trees," "ER," "Mercy," "Smallville," "Supernatural" and "Falling Skies. HARRY LENNIX Harry Cooper Harry Lennix stars as FBI head Harry Cooper in NBC’s action-thriller “The Blacklist.” Lennix is an accomplished film, television and stage actor who recently appeared in the Warner Bros. feature "Man of Steel." In July 2014, Lennix announced the creation of Exponent Media Group, a movie production company he founded with longtime Chicago associate Steve Harris. A distribution deal is in place with Nehst Media’s Digiplex chain for three of the company’s titles, “Mr. Sophistication,” “H4” and “Revival!” The company intends to shoot five more films over the next three years in the $1 million range. “Mr. Sophistication” is a drama that chronicles the return of fictional stand-up comedian Ron Waters. “H4” his “labor of love,” is a fresh interpretation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV featuring an all black cast filmed onstage and in the streets of South Central L.A. The third film “Revival”!, a gospel concert and stage show about the glory of Easter where “Jesus Christ Superstar” meets “The Wiz,” is his most ambitious project to date.