Cineflix Rights has announced a multi-international deal for BBC One’s primetime crime thriller ‘Virdee’ at Mipcom.
The series has been acquired by Britbox on the Canal+ (Netherlands), SVT (Sweden), Filmin (Spain), Norway, Finland and Denmark platforms, and by BBC Studios on the BBC First and BBC Player platforms across Asia. The latest sale follows deals with SBS (Australia) and Media4Fun (Poland).
Based on the best-selling novel by A.A. Dando, Wildey follows Bradford police officer Harry Wildey as he hunts down a serial killer played by Staz Nair (Rebel Moon). His personal life is in turmoil. He is disowned by his family for crossing a religious divide by marrying Saima, played by Ayesha Kala (“Criminal Records”), the woman he loves more than anyone else.
When a murderer kidnaps the local police chief’s son and demands a city-wide ransom, Harry realizes he needs the help of his brother-in-law Riaz (Vikash Bhai, who starred in Crossfire and Limbo), a drug lord who runs the county’s biggest cartel. United in an alliance that could destroy both of them, Harry must choose between saving himself and his family, or saving his city.
“Virdee” is a film adaptation by AA Dando, directed by Mark Tonderai (“Gotham,” “Doctor Who,” “Foundation”), Milad Ami (“Bullshit,” “When the Dust Settlers”) and Mo Ali (“Hijack,” “Cobra”).
Executive producers are Magical Society’s Paul Trybitz (Jane Eyre, Casual Vacancy, Saving Mr. Banks), BBC’s AA Dando and Joe McClellan, and Cineflix Rights’ James Dury and Tom Misselbrook. The series is produced by Stella Nwimo (“Nuclear,” “London Mob”) and Himesh Kher (“Walk with Me,” “Bengal Detective”).
‘Virdee’ is a Magical Society production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer in association with Screen Yorkshire. Cineflix Rights is our exclusive worldwide distribution partner.
Tom Misselbrook, senior vice president of script development at Cineflix Rights, said: “Wildy’s high-octane storytelling has proven to be a huge hit with audiences, and we’re excited to see further momentum for the series with this Mipcon sale.”
The deal with Canal+ was brokered by Lucy Rawson, Vice President Benelux, CEE and Southern Mediterranean at Cineflix Rights. The deal between SVT and Britbox was brokered by Sandra Piha, Senior Vice President of Sales, Pan-Regional, UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. The deal with Firmin was brokered by Sabrina Ayala, sales consultant for Iberia, Italy, Francophone Europe and French Canada. The deal with the BBC was brokered by Chris Bluett, senior vice president of Asia Pacific sales.
