Six international dramas in 2023: dystopian thrillers, Scandinavian adaptations and iconic indie adaptations

Of trigger point to The Empress to Marie Antoinette, Last year was another great year in the world of international drama, as a plethora of streamers splashed the cash on shows around the world and public broadcasters teamed up to greenlight the industry’s best talent. Below, Deadline lists just a few of the key product launches that will light up the world of writing in 2023. Read on.

The swarm (Germany)

This thriller has already been created with numerous co-production partners game of thrones EP Frank Doelger is one of the most anticipated European dramas of 2023. Distributed by both Beta movies and ZDF studiosthe daring adaptation of the bestseller by Frank Schätzing, is exemplary for the modern TV drama world and has partners among them ZDF, France TV, Rai and Hulu Japanthat everyone wants a piece of the swarm, including Marc Huffam (Private James Ryan) and Ute Leonhardt (kill Eve) in his production team. The show tells a dystopian story that is painfully true today. Strange events unfold around the world as whales destroy boats, deep-sea crabs attack beaches, and an unknown ice worm destabilizes continental slopes, while a deadly pathogen spreads in drinking water. A group of scientists come together with the knowledge that something important is happening and are forced to embark on a life-threatening mission to locate intelligent life in the Arctic Ocean. The swarm was unveiled with fanfare more than four years ago, and Robert Franke, vice president of ZDF studios, recently told us that Dölger and co. created “the whole package.” “It’s wrapped in a timely topic — climate change and the global ecosystem at risk — but it approaches it in a fun way that uses genres to make palatable concepts about complex, interconnected ecosystems,” he said. Let yourself be surprised.

Ronja the robber’s daughter (Sweden)

Scandinavian streamer transmission has exploded onto the original content scene, releasing at least one original per week for the past year and launching in several major European countries. The streamer has championed the notion that local shows can be so much more than the traditional idea of ​​Scandi Noir, and this is neatly demonstrated in Viaplay’s upcoming adaptation of Astrid Lindgren’s fantasy horror Ronja the robber’s daughter. The 1981 novel has already been adapted into a 1984 film, Danish-German musical and Japanese anime, and now it’s getting the 12-episode TV series treatment source Creator Hans Rosenfeld. Banijay Nordic’s Swedish language adaptation film lance Could put Kerstin Linden in the spotlight The emigrants Star takes on the title role and plays the strong, independent girl who takes the world by storm. Ronja grew up in a castle surrounded by a gang of robbers and is supposed to be the leader, but when she meets a little boy from the tribe on the other side of the castle, chaos breaks out. It appears poised to establish Viaplay’s growing position in the market and is a testament to the breadth and depth of programming coming out of this long-admired region.

eastern side (Israel)

It has become a cliché to rave about the unprecedented impact of Israeli drama on the world stage, but there is no denying that Israel is a nation on top. The land that brought Shtisel and Fauda to the world and is preparing a drama about Leonard Cohen’s trip to Israel during the Yom Kippur War eastern side next year on the local station May 11with divider Fremantle licking his lips at the sales potential. Of Shtisel Manufacturer About Hameiri, eastern side follows Momi, a former Secret Service agent turned fixer, who plays by his own rules as he brokers shady real estate deals between the Arab residents of East Jerusalem and the powerful Jewish groups that try every possible way to control the area to take. take over Pensive and well connected, Momi glides effortlessly between communities. But behind his cool facade, his double’s deadly effects take their toll, and his world centers on 18-year-old autistic daughter Maya. The Logline reveals a show that sounds almost impossible to fail, with all the characteristics that have driven Israel’s success in recent years. With the likes of Fremantle paying even more attention to the region (RTL’s own outfit recently bought local indie Silvio Productions and already owns Abot Hameiri) and a tax break coming into effect soon, the Israeli drama stronghold is left lists like this. not over yet

Crash course in romance (South Korea)

Squid Game It seems like a while ago, but the eyes of the global TV community are always on what’s coming out of South Korea and who might be traveling there. As Netflix prepares both a second season and a game show version of Hwang Dong-Hyuk’s record-breaking dystopian hit, shows like tvN’s will be shown Crash course in romance fast forward to Premiere. Logline describes the series as the result of a “warm-hearted woman who thinks more of her family than her own well-being,” played by Cannes Best Actress winner Jeon Do-yeon. Her character, Nam Haeng-seon, used to be a national handball player but became a grocery store owner to support her family while struggling with her tutor’s eating disorder. But when two complete opposites meet, a new romance begins. CJ ENM’s performance proves that South Korea is so much more than that Squid Game and tackles a range of modern issues head on. With other flagship launches to come over the next 12 months including Thriller Our blooming youth and fantasy offer the heavenly idol, the following year appears to be focused on further strengthening the Asian nation as a center of originality.

boiling point (UNITED KINGDOM)

Eyebrows raised and temperatures soared as the TV world discovered Philip Barantini’s hit indie one-shot boiling point would by the BBC. But the shock quickly gave way to enthusiasm for a miniseries that has all the ingredients for success and could set trends: Why not turn more established indie icons into limited series? Here, Stephen Graham returns to reprise his role as Andy, the chef huddled on the floor after a cocaine overdose when we left him at the end of Barantini’s BIFA diarrhea. Co-stars Graham and Hannah Walters Matriarch Productions is behind the five-part BBC film, which takes place six months after the film ended and also sees pioneering sous chef Carly (Vinette Robinson) return as chef at her own restaurant. Graham and Walters said the “incredible response to the film, the story and especially the characters” prompted them to get involved with the TV version, and viewers will undoubtedly get their money’s worth.

Last King of the Cross (Australia)

2022, Australian soap opera Neighbors was gruesomely taken away and then dramatically brought back to life in a matter of months. On the slightly higher end of the drama spectrum Outstanding+ Preparing an Australian drama that will dazzle. Inspired by John Ibrahim’s best-selling autobiography, Last King of the Cross was hit hard by the loss of Ian McShane, who was set to play lead actor Ezra Shipman, but when McShane was replaced by Oscar-nominated producer Tim Roth Helium photos knew it had another show on its hands. Last King of the Cross follows two Lebanese teenagers who arrive in Australia and quickly enter the underworld, where they make names for themselves when the cocaine wave hits the nightclub district of Kings Cross and, unsurprisingly, wreaks havoc. Paramount+ has the Australian rights and Sky has signed a European deal Last King of the Cross at the recent Mipcom Cannes, meaning the show has already had access to a lot of potential eyeballs. home of the influential lower abdomen Crime drama, Australia has long been a solid producer of premium screenplays and Last King of the Cross will try to polish this reputation worldwide.