TV Drama In-Demand: Sci-Fi, Horror & Fantasy

Genre shows are providing viewers with a much-needed escape from reality these days. This last TV Drama In-Demand report for the fall spotlights three compelling new sci-fi, horror and fantasy series: ZDF Enterprises’ Sherlock—The Russian Chronicles, START Drama’s The Vampires of Midland and NTV Broadcasting Company’s Beyond Death.

Sherlock—The Russian Chronicles

Commissioner: START
Producers: START, Sreda
Cast: Maxim Matveev, Irina Starshenbaum, Vladimir Mishukov, Pavel Maikov, Konstantin Bogomolov
Writers: Arthur Conan Doyle (characters), Oleg Malovichko, Aleksandr Shaburov
Distributor: ZDF Enterprises worldwide, excluding Russia and CIS, with ready-made and format rights.
Description: (Horror, 8×52 min.) Sherlock Holmes arrives in St. Petersburg in chase of Jack the Ripper. Two allies help him solve a series of crimes, while a police chief stands in the way.
Pitch Perfect: From major indie studios Sreda (Trigger, Gogol) and START comes an action drama set in 19th-century St. Petersburg. Sherlock—The Russian Chronicles follows Sherlock Holmes as he attempts to track down the serial killer Jack the Ripper, who has fled to Russia.
Slot Winner: Sales to TNT Russia, Viasat Russia & CIS, AXN Mystery in Japan, Salto in France, Paris Premiere (M6) in France, Epic Drama in Poland and TV3 Play Baltics, among others.
Sales Contact: zdfe.drama@zdf-enterprises.de

The Vampires of Midland

Commissioners: START, START Drama
Producer: START
Cast: Yuri Stoyanov, Tatiana Dogileva, Ekaterina Kuznetsova, Artyom Tkachenko, Olga Medynich
Writer: Alexey Akimov
Distributor: START Drama with ready-made rights.
Description: (Detective/fantasy, 8×52 min.) The Vampires of Midland is a new twist on the police procedural drama, bringing together the supernatural and earthly detective skills to solve a murder.
Pitch Perfect: A START ultimate hit series that breaks barriers in both VOD and linear viewing. It takes a wry look at family life in a small town and the cultural and generational clashes within individuals and communities, which exist whether you’re a vampire or a regular person. Season two coming in 2022.
Slot Winner: START Drama is responsible for the worldwide scripted series sales for START, a leading streaming service of premium drama in Russia. START series regularly top Russian audience charts and entertain global viewers through partnerships with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Walter Presents, Beta Film, Oble, NHK Enterprises, CJ ENM, ZDF Enterprises and others.
Sales Contacts: Daria Bondarenko, EVP, Sales & Acquisitions; Ilona Romanova, Head, Sales, Scripted Series.

Beyond Death

Commissioner: NTV Broadcasting Company
Producer: WeiT Media
Cast: Sergey Garmash, Svetlana Khodchenkova
Director: Sergey Chekalov
Writers: Oleg Antonov, Elena Rainer
Distributor: NTV Broadcasting Company represents all rights worldwide.
Description: (Thriller/drama/crime, 16×48 min.) The young female neuroscientist and the seasoned detective investigate cases where the line between reality and mystery is blurred.
Pitch Perfect: The long-awaited sequel to the NTV megahit. In season one, top criminal investigator Gleb Tochilin and scientist Yulia Demina had to solve cases where reality and mysticism blended, blurring the vision. Now they will have to crack open very unusual crimes, which can only be done if they expand their minds even further beyond traditional thinking.
Slot Winner: The first season of the series premiered on NTV in 2018 and became a prime-time leader among all TV series on Russian TV. Beyond Death’s slot share reached 17.7 percent (18-plus). The series became an internet sensation, gathering well over 70 million views on YouTube and NTV’s official website.
Sales Contacts: Marina Kataya, Pavel Savin, Yulia Rybalkina.