TV Drama In-Demand: Blue-Sky Dramas

Audiences are still seeking out positive, uplifting stories. These new shows are looking to meet that need: ZDF Enterprises’ Agatha Christie’s Hjerson, All3Media International’s The Larkins, FILM.UA’s Love in Chains, Electric Entertainment’s Leverage: Redemption and GMA Network’s The World Between Us.

Agatha Christie’s Hjerson

Commissioners: C More, TV4, ZDF
Producers: BR·F, TV4/C More, ZDF, Agatha Christie Ltd., Nadcon Film, ZDF Enterprises
Cast: Johan Rheborg, Hanna Alström, Maria Lundqvist, David Fukamachi Regnfors, Björn Andrésen
Writers: Patrik Gyllström, Björn Paqualin, Jakob Beckman, Martin Luuk, Aron Levander, Agatha Christie (original story)
Distributor: ZDF Enterprises for ready-made rights worldwide excluding Scandinavia.
Description: (Crime/suspense, 4×90 min./8×45 min.) A modern-day Agatha Christie spin-off about Sven Hjerson, a once-renowned criminal profiler, and a TV producer who wants to develop a true-crime show that stars him.
Pitch Perfect: Agatha Christie’s Hjerson is the first-ever adaptation based on the fictional detective of Agatha Christie’s fictional writer Ariadne Oliver; a playful, meta contemporary whodunit from the producers behind Midsommar and Before We Die.
Slot Winner: The TV4 Sweden premiere was exceptional in all age groups. In 3-plus, a share of 32.4 percent versus a 25 percent slot average, and in 15 to 34, 33.4 percent versus a 26.9 percent average slot.
Sales Contact: zdfe.drama@zdf-enterprises.de

The Larkins

Commissioner: ITV
Producers: Objective Fiction, Genial Productions
Cast: Bradley Walsh, Joanna Scanlan, Sabrina Bartlett, Tok Stephen
Writers: Simon Nye, Abigail Wilson
Distributor: All3Media International
Description: (Family/period drama, 6×60 min.) An exciting new adaptation of the much-loved H.E. Bates classic novel that follows larger-than-life family adventures in the picturesque English countryside.
Pitch Perfect: Pure escapism for a family audience. Set in the idyllic Kent countryside, The Larkins combines heartwarming and humorous scripts with a fantastic cast to create a feel-good drama and memorable characters you can’t help falling in love with.
Sales Contacts: Sally Habbershaw, Stephen Driscoll, Sabrina Duguet.

Love in Chains

Commissioners/Producers: Seasons one and two were produced by FILM.UA Group and Star Light Media. For seasons three and four, Polish broadcaster TVP joined as a co-producer.
Cast: Stanislav Boklan, Natalka Denysenko, Sonya Priss, Mark Drobot, Taras Tsymbaluk
Writers: Olga Krzhechevska, Tala Prystayetska, Olena Kosenko, Alisa Lindeman
Distributor: FILM.UA Group is the worldwide distributor.
Description: (Period drama, S1-3: 24 eps. each, S4: in prod.) The plot unfolds around a female character, who although she was raised as a noble lady, was born a serf and now is struggling to obtain her freedom and the right to be happy.
Pitch Perfect: Kateryna was raised as a noble lady. But for the whole world, she is only a serf of a rich landowner. She will have to endure the deaths of her closest people, become someone else’s property and survive an uprising. What awaits Kateryna at the end of this exhausting path to freedom?
Slot Winner: During the screening of the drama in Ukraine, STB TV channel became the slot leader in terms of the commercial audience of 18-54 (50+). STB TV channel outperformed all competitors by 37 percent. In Poland on channel TVP, the series opened with 8.35 percent (4+ throughout) share and grew to 12.03 percent within the first week and by the second week was up to 15.99 percent, becoming not just the highest-rated Ukrainian drama, but the highest-rated TV drama in Poland in general for that period. The series has sold to more than 30 countries (including Hungary, former Yugoslavia, Spain, Korea and Japan).
Sales Contacts: Evgeniy Drachov, Kateryna Nahorna.

Leverage: Redemption

Commissioners: Electric Entertainment, IMDb TV
Producer: Electric Entertainment
Cast: Noah Wyle, Aldis Hodge, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf, Gina Bellman
Writers: Katie Rorick is showrunner and executive producer alongside Dean Devlin, Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan-Wilson of Electric Entertainment. John Rogers and Chris Downey are consulting producers.
Distributor: International AVOD, SVOD, PVOD, VOD and broadcast rights available from Electric Entertainment.
Description: (Crime/mystery drama, 16×45 min.) The rich and powerful take what they want. In this new world, our team is back to use their collective skills to take them down!
Pitch Perfect: One of IMDb TV’s first original productions, this new reiteration of Leverage has taken off in the U.S. Leverage: Redemption’s theme of good prevailing over evil has no geographical boundaries, and everyone around the world can relate to its David vs. Goliath premise.
Slot Winner: Electric Entertainment has sold the new series Leverage: Redemption to Bell Media in Canada and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland in Germany.
Sales Contacts: Sonia Mehandjiyska, Head, International Distribution; Nolan Pielak, SVP, International Distribution & Co-Production; Steve Saltman, Head, Domestic Distribution; Raul Pina, International Sales & Marketing Coordinator.

The World Between Us

Producer: GMA Entertainment Group
Cast: Alden Richards, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Tom Rodriguez, Jaclyn Jose
Writers: Dode Cruz, Patrick Louie Ilagan, Marlon Miguel, Glaiza Ramirez
Distributor: GMA Worldwide Division (free and pay TV, SVOD, ancillary rights)
Description: (Romance drama, 40×45 min.) An orphan tech genius is framed for the death of his legal guardian, who also happens to be the mother of the woman he loves.
Pitch Perfect: An endearing love story of two people who must prove that they are destined for each other, despite the circumstances that keep them apart. Set in the milieu of a tech company, the drama combines elements of romance and revenge that will appeal to an international audience.
Slot Winner: The series earned an average rating of 15 percent based on data from Nielsen Philippines. It consistently ranked second in the top ten most-watched programs in prime time. It stars one of the Philippines’ most bankable actors, Alden Richards. The story is inspired by the classic romance novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.
Sales Contact: Roxanne J. Barcelona.