Acorn Snaps Up The Secret Agent for the U.S.

CANNES: Content Television has secured a presale for its brand-new miniseries The Secret Agent, placing the drama in the U.S. through a deal with RLJ Entertainment’s Acorn brand.

Acorn has acquired all U.S. TV, digital and home-entertainment rights for The Secret Agent. The 4×45-minute drama from World Productions will make its broadcast debut later this year on BBC One in the U.K., and will have its U.S. premiere on Acorn TV. DVD/video-distribution rights for The Secret Agent have also been signed by Dazzler in the U.K., for release following the BBC broadcast.

The psychological thriller from the team behind Line of Duty is adapted from Joseph Conrad’s classic novel of terrorism, espionage and betrayal. It was adapted for TV by BAFTA-winning writer Tony Marchant (Great Expectations). Set in Victorian London, The Secret Agent is directed by Emmy Award winner Charles McDougall and tells the story of Verloc, who, unbeknownst to his wife, works for the Russian embassy and must spy on a group of London anarchists. Toby Jones (Marvellous, The Girl) and Vicky McClure (Line of Duty, This is England) star.

Greg Phillips, the president of Content Television, commented, “The Secret Agent is a fantastically compelling new adaptation of Conrad’s novel, which, although set in 1886, has huge contemporary resonance. World Productions are highly skilled in creating prime-time drama that holds great appeal in the international market—as we’ve already seen with Line of Duty, The Bletchley Circle and United—and with such an impeccable cast and production talent on board, as well as this U.S. sale already signed, we’re expecting The Secret Agent to be in strong demand.”