Korean Crime Thriller ‘Bargain’ Wins Critics’ Choice Award at Seriencamp – Global Bulletin
AWARD
Paramount+ and Tving‘s Korean series “Bargain” has won the critics’ choice award at the Seriencamp Festival in Cologne. In April, “Bargain” became the first-ever Korean series to win best screenplay at the Canneseries Festival in France.
The series stars actors Jun Jong-seo (“Money Heist: Korea”) and Jin Seon-kyu (“Extreme Job”) and is an adaptation of director Lee Chung-hyun’s 2015 short film of the same name. Director Jun Woo-sung, who was part of the production team of the short, picked up the story and developed it into a six-part series. “Bargain” revolves around a group of strangers who gather at a remote motel with ulterior motives – seeking to bargain. Unlike the original film, the series follows the characters after an unexpected earthquake traps them inside the building. With no one to trust, they must find a way to survive.
More from Variety
“Bargain” is developed by Paramount+ and Tving, out of Paramount’s global partnership with Korean entertainment powerhouse, CJ ENM. It is licensed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
DISTRIBUTION
BFI Distribution has acquired from mk2 Films Japanese filmmaker Fukada Koji‘s “Love Life,” for U.K. and Ireland distribution. The film debuted at Venice in 2022 and had much festival play thereafter including Toronto and the BFI London Film Festival.
Inspired by Japanese singer and musician Akiko Yano’s song “Love Life,” the film tells the story of Taeko (Fumino Kimura) and her husband Jiro (Kento Nagayama) who are living a peaceful existence with her young son Keita (Tetta Shimada), when a tragic accident brings the boy’s long-lost father, Park (Atom Sunada), back into Taeko’s life. To cope with the pain and guilt she feels after the accident, Taeko throws herself into helping this deaf and homeless man for whom she has a strong sense of responsibility.
The film will go on theatrical release in U.K. and Irish cinemas on Sept. 15. At London’s BFI Southbank, it will play alongside a Ozu Yasujirō season running Sept. 1 – Oct. 3.
CASTING
“Wednesday” star Emma Myers will play the lead role of Pip Fitz-Amobi opposite newcomer Zain Iqbal as Ravi in BBC Three and iPlayer series “A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” (6 x 45′), adapted from Holly Jackson’s mystery thrillers.
“Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh. Case closed. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But smart and single minded Pip Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure and she’s determined to prove it,” reads the plot description from the BBC.
The series will be adapted by Poppy Cogan (“Red Rose”) and written by her alongside Zia Ahmed, Ajoke Ibironke and Ruby Thomas, and directed by Dolly Wells (“Good Posture”). It is produced by Florence Walker. Executive producers are Matthew Read, Matthew Bouch and Frith Tiplady for Moonage Pictures, with Lucy Richer and Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC,and Dolly Wells, Holly Jackson and Poppy Cogan. BBC Studios, who have a minority investment stake in Moonage Pictures, will be handling international distribution of the series.
COMMISSION
The WNET Group’s Nature series produced for PBS, Terra Mater Studios and Love Nature has commissioned “Big Cats, Small World” (1 x 60’). Produced by Camel Thorn Films, the program follows the lives of three big cat species, lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as they raise their families while coexisting in a fiercely competitive world. The special is produced by Adrian Bailey and written and directed by Robyn Keene-Young from Camel Thorn Films. Executive producer for The WNET Group is Fred Kaufman and series producer is Bill Murphy. Executive producers for Terra Mater Studios are Andrea Gastgeb and Sabine Holzer. Alison Barrat executive produces the documentary on behalf of Love Nature. Blue Ant International handles pre-sales and licensing opportunities in other available territories.
SALES
Banijay Rights has sold historical drama “Marie Antoinette” to Disney+ in Germany. The series tells the story of the modern and avant-garde young queen, played by Emilia Schüle (“Ku’damm 56/ 63”), with Louis Cunningham (“Bridgerton”) as the Dauphin of France, Louis XVI. It is produced by Claude Chelli and Margaux Balsan for CAPA Drama, Stéphanie Chartreux for Banijay Studios France and Christophe Toulemonde for Les Gens.
The eight-part series – created and written by Deborah Davis (“The Favourite”) – will launch on Disney+ in Germany on June 21.
Banijay Rights has now sold the first season of “Marie Antoinette” to over 70 territories, including the U.S. (PBS Distribution), the U.K. (BBC Two and iPlayer) and Australia (BBC First), as well as broadcasters across Europe and Latin America. Earlier this year the drama was ordered for a second series by Canal+, with filming expected to begin this fall.
STREAMING
“Scam 2003: The Telgi Story,” the follow up to smash hit “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story,” will stream on SonyLIV from Sept. 2. The series is adapted from the Hindi-language book “Reporter ki Diary” by journalist Sanjay Singh, who broke the story of the stamp paper scam where Abdul Karim Telgi counterfeited government stamp paper to the tune of millions. Kiran Yadnyopavit wrote and developed the story with Singh. The series, produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Sony’s Studio Next, is helmed by Hansal Mehta and directed by Tushar Hiranandani.
STAND UP
Indian stand up comedian Zakir Khan, known for his Prime Video comedy specials “Haq Se Single” (2017), “Kaksha Gyarvi” (2018) and “Tathastu” (2022), will perform at Madison Square Garden in March 2024. Khan’s breakthrough came after winning the title of India’s Best Stand Up, a comedy competition organised by Comedy Central, in 2012.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
