China’s iQIYI, Youku & Tencent Video to Air My Brilliant Friend Season Two

The Chinese platforms iQIYI, Youku and Tencent Video have licensed My Brilliant Friend: The Story of a New Name, the second season of the Italian-language drama based on Elena Ferrante’s best-selling book series, from Fremantle.

The new agreements mark the first time that a non-English-language European drama has sold to all three platforms simultaneously. My Brilliant Friend: The Story of a New Name recently debuted on Italy’s Rai 1 as the nation’s highest-rated drama in almost a year and had a successful launch on HBO in the U.S.

Haryaty Rahman, senior VP of distribution for Asia, International, Fremantle, said: “Ferrante’s masterful story has been enjoyed by Chinese readers for years. The first season was a huge hit for audiences across the country and it is clear that the genuineness and delicacy of the friendship between the two female characters resonate with millions across borders. The fact that the series has sold to the biggest platforms in the region at the same time non-exclusively is testament to its popularity and to the growing appetite for globally-renowned drama.”