German Hit Dark Woods Notches Up Deals

Global Screen has lined up deals in the U.S., Canada, Spain and France for the crime thriller Dark Woods.

Canal+ Group in France acquired the title for its Polar+ channel. First Look Media’s streaming service, Topic, will release the series as part of its exclusive programming this May in the U.S. and Canada. In Spain, the series was sold to Cosmo TV for its pay-TV channel and SVOD service.

Inspired by true events that went unsolved for almost 30 years, the story of a criminal case centers on a high-ranking police officer’s increasingly desperate search for his sister and the family’s suffering. Each episode was the most-watched program in prime time on its respective day of broadcast in Germany.

Audrey Brugère, head of international series at Canal+ Group, said: “We are so excited to bring Dark Woods to our subscribers. They are eager to discover a new generation of German crime series, and Dark Woods’ incredible true story will grip them.”

Ryan Chanatry, Topic’s general manager, stated: “This true crime story became a cultural phenomenon in Germany and excels at keeping you on the edge of your seat as the plot unfolds. Given its subject matter, we’re confident this critically acclaimed series will be enthusiastically received in North America, and we couldn’t be more excited to exclusively bring Dark Woods to our subscribers.”

Dana Hoefinger, VP of international acquisitions and co-productions at Global Scree, said: “Dark Woods is an outstanding series whose extraordinary success in its home country is more than well deserved. Together with our partners at ConradFilm and Bavaria Fiction we are excited that it is now finding its way to an international audience so quickly and are continuing further negotiations with multiple territories.”