Luther Gets Adapted in South Korea, The Office & Criminal Justice in India

South Korea is getting its own version of the hit drama Luther, thanks to a deal secured by BBC Worldwide, which has also sold remake rights for The Office in India, among other format agreements.

South Korean broadcaster Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) will be making a local version of Luther. The South Korean treatment will premiere in late October on MBC. In addition to Luther, local versions of the hit BBC series Mistresses and Life on Mars are set to premiere on South Korean screens this year.

The BBC’s popular mockumentary sitcom The Office is relocating to India, marking the tenth local version of the format. Aditya Birla Group’s Applause Entertainment in India has licensed the rights. The local version follows Indian boss Jagdeep Chaddha and his hapless attempts to inspire and motivate a reluctant workforce.

BBC Worldwide’s partnership with Aditya Birla Group’s Applause Entertainment will also see them working together to develop and produce an Indian version of the BBC format Criminal Justice. This will be the first time the Criminal Justice format will be developed in Asia. Criminal Justice was brought to the U.S. as The Night Of on HBO, which garnered a slew of accolades.

In further formats news, BBC Worldwide sold Dancing with the Stars to Icelandic broadcaster Stod 2. The series, titled locally as Allir Geta Dansað, will air in prime time every Sunday night in Iceland. You’re Back in the Room, a Tuesday’s Child format, has been sold to Poland and Portugal. The local versions of the hypnotic game show will be available to Polish and Portuguese audiences from spring 2018.