Amazon Takes ‘The Swarm’ for Africa
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Amazon is diving into The Swarm, snatching up rights for its Prime Video service across sub-Saharan Africa for the ecological thriller from Game of Thrones producer Frank Doelger.
The limited series, adapted from Frank Schätzing’s international best-seller, tells the story of a series of escalating disasters emerging from the world’s oceans. As scientists around the globe rush to discover their cause, it becomes clear that there is something bigger at play: an intelligent life force, dwelling in the deeps that is manipulating all life below the surface.
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Barbara Eder (Barbarians, Concordia), Luke Watson (Ripper Street) and Philipp Stölzl (The Physician) directed the series, which features an ensemble cast including Alexander Karim (Dying of the Light), Cécile de France (The New Pope), Leonie Benesch (Babylon Berlin, The Crown), Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt) and Takuya Kimura (2046, I Come With The Rain). Doelger produced through his Intaglio Films, together with Eric Welbers, Mark Huffam and Ute Leonhardt.
Yuliya Fischer, director drama at ZDF Studios, brokered the Amazon deal.
“The Swarm is one of the hottest titles in our scripted catalog,” she said in a statement. “I’m delighted that Prime Video will be introducing its African subscribers to this ecological thriller that is like no other.”
ZDF Studios and Beta Film are handling world sales on the eight-hour limited series, which has already sold across most of Europe and Asia, with the CW taking U.S. rights.
The Swarm has been a hit in ZDF’s home territory in Germany, where the show has racked up some 10 million views per episode on linear TV and online catch-up.
The Swarm was produced by Schwarm TV Productions GmbH & Co KG, a joint venture between Intaglio Films and ndF IP for ZDF, France Télévisions, Rai Fiction, Viaplay Group, Hulu Japan, ORF, SRF, in co-production with Bravado Fiction and Beside Production, in co-operation with ATHOS KG.
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