Scripted

All3Media International has signed a host of deals across three continents for Hartswood Films The Control Room. This successful first round of sales marks All3Media International’s first distribution agreement with Hartswood Films, the BAFTA, Peabody and RTS winning producer behind Sherlock and Dracula.

Following its acclaimed premiere on BBC One, The Control Room has been acquired in Australia, where it will launch on BBC Studios, with a second window in this territory also signed with national broadcaster ABC. In China, national streaming service Pumpkin Film has also taken the series.

In Europe, the three-part thriller will air in the Netherlands on public broadcaster NPO, in Spain on Comunidad Film, and in Ireland on Virgin Media Television. In addition Dazzler Media has acquired home entertainment rights to the series in the UK and Ireland.

Commissioned by the BBC and executive produced by Elaine Cameron (Sherlock) for Hartswood Films and Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, the series is led by Iain De Caestecker (Roadkill, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) and Joanna Vanderham (Dancing on the Edge, The Go-Between, Man in an Orange Shirt). The thriller is written by BAFTA and RTS award-winner Nick Leather (Mothers’ Day, Murdered for Being Different) and directed by Amy Neil (Trust Me, Hanna).

Supporting cast members include Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary, The Capture, Finding Alice), Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones, Vigil), Taj Atwal (The Syndicate, Line of Duty) and Stuart Bowman (Bodyguard, Versailles).

Set in Glasgow, The Control Room tells the story of Gabe (De Caestecker), an ordinary man who works as an emergency call handler for the Scottish Ambulance Service in Glasgow. His world is turned upside down when he receives a desperate life-and-death call from a woman who appears to know him. With Gabe under pressure to work out who she is, he makes a decision that threatens to have devastating consequences.

Elaine Cameron, Executive Producer at Hartswood Films commented “All3Media International has an exceptional track record, working on some of the best scripted content in recent memory so we are thrilled The Control Room marks our first partnership with this fantastic team. The universal appeal of this high-octane, atmospheric and riveting thriller has been proven by this brilliant raft of sales, and we are incredibly excited to watch as The Control Room grips audiences around the world.”

Maartje Horchner, EVP Content at All3Media International commented, “We are thrilled that The Control Room marks our first partnership with Hartswood Films. An utterly compelling, original thriller The Control Room is a fantastic addition to Hartswood Films’ legacy of premium, landmark dramas. Beautifully shot and led by captivating performances from Iain De Caestecker and Joanna Vanderham, Nick Leather’s exhilarating script seamlessly combines edge-of-your-seat twists and turns with poignant character-driven drama. With broadcasters in Europe, Australia, and Asia already committed to this new thriller, we are excited to discover more brilliant global partners as we take the series to international market.”