‘Dead Still,’ ‘Mental’ Writers Pen Paris-Set Spy Thriller ‘The Continental Method,’ Boarded by Red Arrow Studios Intl. (EXCLUSIVE)
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Ireland’s Deadpan Pictures (“Northern Lights”) and France’s Thalie Images are teaming up on “The Continental Method,” an ambitious spy comedy thriller set against the backdrop of the Paris riots of May 1968.
The European half-hour series is inspired by the true story of Conor O’Flaherty, a fresh-faced Irish salesman who became an unlikely spy in Paris. The twelve-part show is penned by John Morton (“Dead Still”) and Victor Lockwood (“Mental”) who are leading a writing team.
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Red Arrow Studios International will kick-off pre-sales at Mipcom for territories outside of France and Ireland. Deadpan Pictures is co-producing the show with Paris-based Thalie Images, which is part of Kabo Family, a subsidiary of Asacha Media Group.
‘The Continental Method” follows Conor O’Flaherty as he arrives in Paris to sell sweaters in the fashion capital of the world. Caught up in the fervor of the times, he falls for a radical French student and is simultaneously recruited in a clumsy covert Irish government operation to acquire illegal arms as sectarian conflicts boil over in Northern Ireland.
Paul Donovan, Deadpan co-founder who is executive producing with Thalie CEO Stephane Moatti, said the series will be “set between the remote Aran Islands and Paris at the height of 1960s cool when social tension begins to boil over.” He added that the show “perfectly blends deadpan humor with action, romance and intrigue.”
Thalie Images is part of Kabo Family whose recent credits include the comedy thriller “Killer Coaster”, which premiered globally on Prime Video on Sept. 15. Kabo Family was acquired by Asacha Media Group in August 2021.
Deadpan Pictures is a leading Irish banner which previously delivered “Northern Lights” for Lionsgate; “Can’t Cope Won’t Cope” for Netflix and the BBC; “Dead Still” for Acorn TV and RTE (co-written and directed by Imogen Murphy.); and International Emmy-winning “Moone Boy,” which was co-produced with Baby Cow for Sky.
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