HBO Europe Orders Hungarian Drama The Informant

HBO Europe has greenlit The Informant, a Hungarian drama written by Bálint Szentgyörgyi, who directs alongside Áron Mátyássy and Bence Miklauzic.

The eight-part series follows 20-year-old Geri (Gergely Váradi), who is starting university in 1980s Hungary. Living a second life as an informant for the State Security Department unbeknownst to his friends, he struggles to keep his two lives separate and have a normal existence. The Informant has begun filming in Budapest.

In addition to Váradi (Guerilla, Black Goat), the series stars Márton Patkós (Sunset, Kincsem—Bet on Revenge), Júlia Szász (Neither with You, Land of the Brave, The Teacher), Abigél Szőke (Those Who Remained) and Szabolcs Thuróczy (Golden Life, Comrade Drakulich). Production services are provided by Proton Cinema.

Szentgyörgyi said: “The Informant is the coming-of-age story about a group of young people who rise up in 1980s Hungary. I have the privilege to work with a young group of actors who are members of my own generation, as we were more or less all born around the time of the change of regime. It makes me particularly happy to have the opportunity to create a series about the 1980s—this period has just become distant enough from the present day to be called history. I am really excited to see how the audience receives this series which is as much the story of first parties and first loves as it is of important, life-changing decisions—and also a fascinating mystery.”

Johnathan Young, executive producer for HBO Europe, said: “As soon as we read Bálint Szentgyörgyi’s pilot script we were hooked on The Informant. The opportunity to revisit a well-known period in Hungary’s history with fresh eyes and vivid young characters was too good to miss. We hope our show will surprise the audience as well as entertain. This is not the grim ’80s as is sometimes portrayed. Our characters are determined to make the most of their lives and are embracing every opportunity with warmth, and looking forward to the future with optimism.”

Anna Závorszky, producer for HBO Europe, added: “We are collaborating with an outstanding creative team to make this youthful, daring series which focuses on a still-controversial period of our history. We trust that it will serve as gripping entertainment for several generations.”