Malaysian Version of The Bridge Headed to Stan

Both seasons of Malaysian producer Double Vision’s localized version of The Bridge have been sold to Australian streaming service Stan.

The Asian version of The Bridge was initially commissioned by Viu and HBO Asia in 2018. The deal marks the first time that Stan has acquired a Malaysian drama series.

In season one, faithfully following Hans Rosenfeldt’s hit Scandi original, a dead body is found on the border between Malaysia and Singapore, necessitating an investigator from each country to work together to solve the crime. Season two, meanwhile, is an entirely original storyline and involves a third country: Indonesia.

Min Lim, CEO of Vision New Media, head of production at Double Vision and the series’ showrunner, said: “I loved the original of The Bridge when I first saw it and knew that the story would work brilliantly on the Malaysia/Singapore border. It was one of the most ambitious Malaysian television projects at the time, and I was both thrilled and incredibly appreciative when Viu decided to take a chance on it and subsequently committed to securing the rights so that we could adapt it for them.

“Malaysian drama has not traditionally traveled well outside of the country, let alone outside of Asia, and this is something that I am incredibly passionate about changing. So, to have our version of The Bridge premiere on Stan in Australia is not only testament to the incredible skills and talent base that we have in the country but also to the fact that well-made shows of any language can travel if given the opportunity. This has made me even more committed to ensuring that more Malaysian productions find great homes overseas.”

Lyle Bettson-Barker, senior VP for Australia and New Zealand at Banijay Rights, which licensed the series, added: “One of the most prominent scripted formats of the last decade, The Bridge continues to move and thrill viewers worldwide. We’re delighted the fantastic Malaysian version has found an Australian home in Stan, which will bring a whole new audience to this impeccably crafted series.”