ZDF Studios Picks Up Pair of Czech Dramas

ZDF Studios has partnered with the Czech Republic’s Voyo and TV Nova to distribute two of their top dramas around the world, excluding the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Russia and the Balkans.

This includes The Markovic Method: Hojer, produced by TV Nova and Blue Hills Pictures, which tells the true story of legendary detective Jiří Markovič’s arrest of the serial killer Ladislav Hojer. At the turn of the 1980s, Prague was a bleak and hostile place that saw young sexual assailants with sadistic tendencies emerge at night, and Markovič relentlessly pursued them throughout his career.

The series is directed by Emmy Award winner Pavel Soukup (Marty is Dead) and stars Petr Lněnička (Waves) as Markovič.

ZDF Studios also picked up The King of Sumava, produced by Lucky Man Production. The romantic period drama is an adaptation of David Jan Žák’s novel The Return of the Šumava King. Set against the backdrop of postwar Czechoslovakia in 1948, the true story follows Josef Hasil, a 24-year-old cook in the National Security Corps. Having survived the war in a German labor camp and fought alongside partisans, he hasn’t o interest in politics. However, as the Iron Curtain descends, the rapidly closing borders and looming fears of World War II thrust him into the world of smuggling humans across borders. His unparalleled knowledge of the Šumava mountains enables him to navigate the path from East to West, making him an invaluable asset to those seeking freedom.

The King of Sumava is directed by six-time Czech Lion winner David Ondříček. It stars actor and writer Oskar Hes.

Both titles premiered on Voyo in the Czech Republic.

“These two gripping dramas will captivate audiences even more by knowing that they were inspired by true events,” said Mirela Nastase, Director Scripted at ZDF Studios. “A bingeable feast for viewers who love suspense, atmospheric settings and great storytelling.”

Jan Rudovský, head of acquisitions for Czechia and Slovakia at TV Nova, said, “We are immensely proud of these local productions and the talent, both off-screen and on-screen, who have worked tirelessly to bring these stories to life. With ZDF Studios onboard, I look forward to The Markovic Method: Hojer and The King of Sumava entertaining audiences around the world.”