TV series now sold in 87 territories following its Channel 4 premiere, and U.S. debut on Hulu. Additional esteemed broadcasters joining ARTE (France/Germany) and Movistar+ (Spain) include CBC and the CBC Gem streaming service (Canada) Globoplay (Brazil), M-Net (Africa), Canal+ (Poland), AMEDIATEKA (Russia), IVI (Russia), Cosmote TV(Greece), MX Player (India), BBC Persian (MENA), LMT (Latvia), GO (Malta) and D-Smart (Turkey).
Franco-German net ARTE and Spain’s first Pay TV broadcaster Movistar+ have boarded the powerful crime drama Baghdad Central, after striking deals with Fremantle. Produced by Fremantle’s scripted label Euston Films, the Iraq War drama series, which takes the unique step of putting Iraqis centre stage, is based on the novel by Elliott Colla and is written by BAFTA-nominated writer Stephen Butchard (The Last Kingdom, House of Saddam).
ARTE will air the series across their television network European French and German speaking territories including France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Movistar+, who have also acquired The Investigation and The Salisbury Poisonings from Fremantle in an exclusive package deal, will launch the dramas on their platform to audiences across Spain.
Fremantle have also closed a raft of deals for the series with other esteemed broadcasters including CBC and the CBC Gem streaming service (Canada) Globoplay (Brazil), M-Net (Africa), Canal+ (Poland), AMEDIATEKA (Russia), IVI (Russia), Cosmote TV(Greece), MX Player (India), BBC Persian (MENA), LMT (Latvia), GO (Malta) and D-Smart (Turkey). These broadcasters will join Channel 4 (UK), who debuted the series earlier this year, Hulu (U.S.), StarzPlay (MENA) and SBS (Australia) making this hit TV show an international success.
Starring Waleed Zuaiter, Corey Stoll, Bertie Carvel, Clara Khoury, Leem Lubany, July Namir, and Neil Maskell, the series is set in October 2003 in Baghdad after Saddam Hussein has fallen and the city lies at the centre of the coalition’s efforts to secure the region.
In the midst of this chaos an Iraqi ex-policeman, Muhsin al-Khafaji (Waleed Zuaiter) who has lost his job, his home and his wife is now desperately trying to keep his sick daughter safe. A case of mistaken identity sees Khafaji arrested and tortured when he comes across a British ex-police officer, Frank Temple (Bertie Carvel), who recruits him to work with him in the Green Zone. Unbeknown to both Temple and American Military Police Captain John Parodi, played by Golden Globe-nominated Corey Stoll, Khafaji is compelled by his own, secret reasons to risk everything to collaborate with the occupying forces.
Al De Azpiazu, SVP of Sales & Distribution, French Speaking Europe, Italy, Spain & Portugal, International, Fremantle said, “Baghdad Central is an authentic and compelling crime thriller that will be a great addition to ARTE’s and Movistar’s line up. The gripping storyline is told through a unique perspective that we don’t often see on TV and bought to life by an incredible international cast. It received an impressive reception following its launch in the UK and US on Hulu, so we’ve no doubt it will make a lasting impression on ARTE’s and Movistar+ audiences.”
The series has received critical acclaim with The Telegraph describing it as a “A nerve-shredding thriller”, The LA Times calling it a “gripping detective series” and “impossible-to-stop-watching” according to The Wall Street Journal.
Baghdad Central (6×60) is produced by Euston Films (part of Fremantle). Executive Producers Kate Harwood, Stephen Butchard and Alice Troughton. Producer is Jonathan Curling (The Secret). Fremantle is the global distributor for the series. Alice Troughton (Doctor Who, Tin Star, A Discovery of Witches) is lead director and BAFTA-nominated Ben A. Williams (Humans, The Pass) directed the second block of filming.
