In a key strategic move and following some of the smart TV money in these current times, New Regency has partnered with Bravado Equity to drive into Europe, making its first European series acquisition âBeyondâ (aka âOderbruchâ), one of the standout recent TV hits in Europe.
New Regency will launch âBeyondâ at the London TV Screenings, its market debut taking place for invited guests on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25. Â
In industry terms, prestige drama âBeyondâ ticks many of the boxes for series which can made with high production values while tapping into Europeâs rich financing ecosystem.
The second series in a first-look TV deal between CBS Studios and Berlin-based Syrreal Entertainment, âBeyondâ is also produced by ARD Degeto, the film production arm of Germanyâs ARD, Europeâs biggest public broadcaster which is moving into ever more ambitious series such as 2024 Canneseries winner âThe Zweiflersâ and indeed âBeyond.â
âBeyondâ is also supported by the German Motion Picture Fund and Polish Film Institute, in association with Bravado Equity.
Directed by Adolfo J. Kolmerer (âThe Island,â âThe Calendar Killerâ) and Christian Alvart (âThe Island,â âFree Countryâ), the mystery series kicks in with the grisly discovery of the bodies and bones of 248 murder victims left in a mound in a field in the desolate marshy expanse of Germanyâs northern border with Poland. Â
Investigation of a serial murderer brings together  former police officer Maggie Kring (Karoline Schuch, ââTatort,â âDark Woodsâ) and detective Roland Voit (Felix Kramer, Dogs of Berlin, Dark) ) after more than 20 years apart.Â
They are forced to confront their shared past and the truth behind the death of Maggieâs brother, which traumatizes her deeply, as the murders begin to be linked to a centuries-old legend of the âGreat Hunter.âÂ
Polished in its visuals but tensed from the get-go by a sinister electronic score, melding procedural and a shockingly incomprehensible reality, the suspense thriller builds as a potent mixture where the past also weighs heavily, in personal, historical and fantasy terms. Â
âBeyondâ bowed on ARD Mediathek, the networkâs VOD service, to seven million views in its first 10 days, a huge audience, while also winning the top prize at Octoberâs Cadiz South Intl. Series Festival, Spainâs biggest TV fest.
Produced by Siegfried Kamml, Alvart and Timm Oberwelland, the series is written by Arend Remmers, Martin Behnke, Ronny Schalk and Alvart.
âWe are thrilled to announce our first European series collaboration with such esteemed and talented production partners. âBeyondâ is a smart, suspenseful drama that we are really excited about bringing to international audiences,â said Samantha Cameron-Mowat, New Regency SVP, co-head international distributionÂ
âItâs been a huge success for ARD in Germany, one of the most watched fictional series of last year, and they are currently in production on Season 2,â she added. âNon-English language programming, particularly premium scripted, continues to thrive across platforms.â
âNew Regency has an incredibly well-established line-up of feature films and television programming, and we are delighted to now expand our acquisition plans to include European premium scripted series,â added Marco Arabit, SVP, co-head international distribution. ââBeyond,â with its fresh and original storytelling, talented cast and innovative âlookâ is a real complement to our continually growing portfolio and fits perfectly with our New Regency brand.â
âBeyondâsâ executive producers are Christoph Pellander, Sebastian LĂŒckel and Patrick Noel Simon for Degeto Film, Meghan Lyvers and Lindsey Martin for CBS Studios and Max Breuer, Arend Remmers, Adolfo J. Kolmerer and Nils Gustenhofen for Syrreal.
Founded in 1991, New Regencyâs library features iconic films and television series such as âBohemian Rhapsody,â âThe Revenant,â â12 Years a Slaveâ and âHeat.â
TV titles include the Emmy Award winning series âMr. & Mrs. Smith,â starring Donald Glover with Amazon Prime Video; the upcoming âMan on Fire,â based on AJ Quinnellâs beloved book series with Netflix; and the conspiracy thriller âPrime Target,â starring Leo Woodall, with Apple TV+.