RTÉ & Acorn TV Order Hidden Assets

RTÉ and AMC Networks’ Acorn TV have commissioned the new six-part Irish drama Hidden Assets, written by Peter McKenna (Kin, Red Rock) and Morna Regan.

Produced by Irish production company Saffron Moon and co-produced by Belgian producer Potemkino and Canada’s Facet 4 in association with Screen Ireland and Screen Flanders, Hidden Assets takes place on location in the world’s diamond capital, Antwerp, and against a backdrop of small-town Ireland and the countryside of Clare and Limerick.

A routine raid sees the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) expose a link between a wealthy Irish family, a stash of rough diamonds and a series of deadly bombings in Belgium. But nothing is as it seems, as by-the-book Belgian Chief Inspector Christian De Jong and unconventional CAB Detective Emer Berry are thrown together in a heart-pounding race to halt a further horrifying terror attack in Antwerp.

Hidden Assets stars Angeline Ball (Keeping Faith, The Commitments), along with Simone Kirby (His Dark Materials, Jimmy’s Hall) and Peter Coonan (Love/Hate, Cold Courage).

The series will broadcast on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player this fall, and as an Acorn TV Original on Acorn TV in the U.S. and on Super Channel in Canada in 2022.

Shane Murphy, head of drama and comedy at RTÉ, said: “We’re very happy to be partnering with Saffron Moon and Acorn TV again to commission Hidden Assets. To have Peter McKenna and Morna Regan on board as writers, Thaddeus O’Sullivan directing and cast at the level of Angeline Ball, Simone Kirby, Michael Ironside and Peter Coonan bodes extremely well for the series.”

Catherine Mackin, managing director of Acorn Media Enterprises, said: “Acorn Media Enterprises is excited to work with our friends at RTÉ to commission another high-quality production. With a riveting script and wonderful international cast led by Angeline Ball, Hidden Assets is sure to intrigue Acorn TV subscribers.”

Producer Siobhán Bourke said: “Saffron Moon is delighted to partner with Facet4 and Potemkino to co-produce Hidden Assets in Antwerp and Co. Clare. Our amazing cast, led by Angeline Ball, along with directors Thaddeus O’Sullivan and Kadir Ferati Balci, together with writers Peter McKenna and Morna Regan, have created a compelling series, which we’re really looking forward to sharing with audiences in Ireland and internationally.”

Andrew Byrne, Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland television manager, said: “Hidden Assets is an important project on our ever-expanding TV drama slate. We are delighted to be championing Irish talent both in front of and behind the camera. Filming in Limerick, this series will further support local job opportunities and is one of a wide number of Screen Ireland projects which have filmed on the West Coast this year. The show has garnered huge interest internationally, bringing Irish creative voices and locations to TV screens worldwide.”