ARTE, Movistar+ Board Baghdad Central

The Franco-German network ARTE and Spain’s Movistar+ have licensed the crime drama Baghdad Central from Fremantle.

Produced by Euston Films, the Iraq War drama series is based on the novel by Elliott Colla and is written by BAFTA nominee Stephen Butchard (The Last Kingdom, House of Saddam). The series is set in October 2003 in Baghdad after Saddam Hussein has fallen and the city lies in the middle of the coalition’s efforts to secure the region. The story puts the Iraqis center stage.

ARTE will air the series in French- and German-speaking territories across Europe, including France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Movistar+, which has also acquired The Investigation and Salisbury Poisonings from Fremantle in an exclusive package deal, will launch the dramas on its platform to audiences across Spain.

The broadcast roster for Baghdad Central includes CBC and the CBC and the CBC Gem streaming service (Canada), Globoplay (Brazil), M-Net (Africa), Canal+ (Poland), Cosmote TV (Greece), MX Player (India), AMEDIATEKA (Russia), IVI (Russia), BBC Persian (MENA), LMT (Latvia), GO (Malta) and D-Smart (Turkey). These broadcasters join Channel 4 (U.K.), which debuted the series earlier this year, Hulu (U.S.), SBS (Australia) and StarzPlay (MENA).

Al De Azpiazu, senior VP of sales and distribution for French-speaking Europe, Italy, Spain and Portugal, International, at Fremantle, said, “Baghdad Central is an authentic and compelling crime thriller making the series a great addition to ARTE’s and Movistar’s lineup.  The gripping storyline is told through a unique perspective that we don’t often see on TV and bought to life by an incredible international cast. It received an impressive reception following its launch in the U.K. and U.S. on Hulu, so we’ve no doubt it will make a lasting impression on ARTE’s and Movistar+ audiences.”