M-Net Gives Second Season to Reyka

M-Net and Fremantle are bringing back the mystery crime thriller Reyka for a second season.

The English-language drama, from writer and creator Rohan Dickson, will see South African-born actress Kim Engelbrecht and British actor Iain Glen return to their roles. Season two is slated to premiere on M-Net in late 2023, with production kicking off in early January.

Season one follows the story of titular character Reyka (Kim Engelbrecht), a crime profiler hunting an elusive serial killer in KwaZulu-Natal’s sugarcane fields, all while facing her past traumas. Season two centers on couples that are attacked on the docks of the South African City Durban and will see Reyka work with a new team to find mysterious connections between the Lover’s Lane Killer, teenage sex workers and the deadly assault of a cobbler.

“Season two promises to be even more compelling than season one,” said Harriet Gavshon, Quizzical Pictures’ creative director and Reyka producer.

“It’s a challenge, but we’re excited by it. This time, Reyka is working in the harbor, where she comes across stowaways, smuggling, prostitution and of course, another serial killer… And her abductor Speelman is very much alive,” she added.

Serena Cullen, executive producer at Serena Cullen Productions, said, “I’m so excited to be making Reyka season two and exploring the dark underworld of water in KZN. We plan to come back even bigger and stronger than the first series, especially now we have the global recognition ignited by season one.”

Nomsa Philiso, CEO of general entertainment at MultiChoice Group, said, “Reyka is one of the leaders in our international co-production journey, and it’s performed exceptionally well both locally and in other territories. We are excited to see where season two takes the story. We remain invested in the growth of our creatives on an international stage, and this is a further step in that direction.”

Jan du Plessis, channel director for M-Net Channels, said, “We are pleased to be renewing Reyka for season two. Not only did season one receive praise from audiences and critics, it also performed well internationally, with Fremantle selling it to 147 territories. International co-productions are a strategy that has proven to be successful for M-Net and MultiChoice recently—they’re a great platform for our talent both in front of and behind the camera.”

“We are extremely proud of Reyka, our first South African drama, and all that it has achieved,” said Julie Hodge, VP for editorial, global drama at Fremantle and executive producer for Reyka. “The first series received an incredible reception when it launched last year, not just in South Africa, but around the world with our incredible broadcaster partners, further reinforcing the global appeal of the series. We are looking forward to working with the incredibly talented team again to bring season two to screen.”

Engelbrecht said about the upcoming season two, “I am very excited to see where the story goes. [Writer and creator] Rohan Dickson has a clear vision for Reyka; I am ready to explore all that Reyka offers and go on another adventure with her. I hope the audience will go on that journey with us. Thank you to our South African and international audience for your continued love and support.”