Scripted

ZDF Enterprises has secured the distribution rights (excluding North America) for a new six-part crime series, Before We Die, produced by Eagle Eye Drama for Channel 4.

Based on the Swedish series of the same name, Before We Die stars Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey, Clocking Off, Three Girls), Patrick Gibson (The Tudors, The OA) and Vincent Regan (Troy, 300, Poldark). The thriller follows a detective from the organised crime unit, who faces tough choices when she discovers her estranged son is an undercover informant in a brutal murder investigation involving Eastern European drug gangs.

Eagle Eye Drama, the team behind global drama brand Walter Presents, are filming the series in England and Belgium with delivery expected in Spring 2021. Before We Die will be directed by leading Belgian director Jan Matthys (Baptiste, The Last Kingdom, Our Girl), and has been adapted and written by Matt Baker.

Robert Franke, Vice President ZDFE.drama at ZDF Enterprises, said: “The team behind Walter Presents have superb judgement when it comes to selecting international dramas for their platform and Before We Die is no exception. A brilliant thriller that will keep audiences in suspense.”

Walter Iuzzolino, CEO Eagle Eye Drama added: “The original Swedish thriller Before We Die is one of my favourite thrillers in the Walter Presents collection and having the opportunity to re-imagine such a wonderful story is an absolute honour and a pleasure. We’ve assembled an outstanding cast and truly talented production team with Jan Matthys at the helm to deliver a glossy, tension packed, memorable British thriller.”

ZDF Enterprises are also the distributor of the original Swedish version which was sold to Google, iTunes, Amazon, NPO (Netherlands), Australia’s SBS, VRT (Belgium), Okko (Russia) and Germany’s ZDF and ProSiebenSat.1 amongst others.

Before We Die is produced by Eagle Eye Drama in association with Caviar and is supported by Screen Flanders and the Belgian tax shelter via Caviar Film Financing. Executive producers are Jo McGrath, Walter Iuzzolino and Bert Hamelinck.