Nordic Adaptations for BBC Studios Scripted Formats

BBC Studios’ Nordic production arm is co-producing localized versions of the hit series Doctor Foster, Luther and The Office.

Finland’s Take Two Studios optioned the psychological drama Doctor Foster, which centers on a trusted doctor whose life implodes when she suspects her husband of having an affair. The Doctor Foster format has already been adapted in South Korea, France, Russia, Turkey, the Philippines and India.

The crime thriller Luther will also be remade as part of the optioning and co-production agreement with Take Two Studios. The detective series is driven by an intellectually brilliant but emotionally impulsive cop. Luther has already been localized in India, South Korea, Russia and France and is currently in production in India.

In Denmark, STV Production signed a deal to option and co-produce a local adaptation of The Office. A fly-on-the-wall style mockumentary, the series has already seen successful adaptations in the U.S., Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Sweden, Finland, India and Poland.

Jan Salling, head of BBC Studios Nordics, formats and productions, said, “The Nordic market has seen exponential growth in demand for original dramas over the past three years, and BBC Studios is well placed to meet this growing demand through our extensive catalog of hit British scripted formats. These are stories and characters that can resonate with audiences locally, along with benefits of shorter development times from paper to screen. We have already seen success with our varied slate of unscripted series, including Dancing With the Stars, Bake Off and Sewing Bee, and these new agreements are early indicators of the potential to grow our scripted business in market.”

Take Two Studios’ co-chairmen, Eero Hietala and Ilkka Hynninen, added, “Take Two Studios is excited to partner with BBC Studios to co-produce these gripping drama series with impressive track records. This deal further expands our slate of ambitious drama productions with our international partners. Teaming up with BBC Studios is consistent to our strategy of working with the world’s best fiction creators.”

Daniel Svarts, executive VP of STV Production, said, “We are very much looking forward to co-developing a Danish adaptation of The Office, as it is such an amazing comedy series. This show offers the opportunity to address a number of important and universal topics in time, and a unique opportunity to expose the types who do not understand that the world is changing.”