The ground breaking deal is good news for scripted content creators as it marks the commitment from another major digital player – besides Netflix, Amazon, Hulu - ready to put heavy cash into high-end original drama to boost its platform. It is also the UK commercial broadcaster Channel 4’s first co-production to benefit from the channel’s increased investment in original TV drama.
“It is so exciting that Swedish original ideas prove so strong outside the Nordic region” said SVT’s co-production executive Stefan Baron who backed the original sci-fi series.
Real Humans’ English-language version called Humans is produced by London-based Kudos (Broadchurch, The Tunnel) for Channel 4, in association with Sweden’s Matador Films, co-headed by the creator of Real Humans Lars Lundström.
The 8x60’ show set to start filming this summer is based on a script by Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (Spooks). The ‘hubots’ from the original Swedish show will be replaced by ‘Synths’, i.e. highly-developed robotic servants. In Humans, the acquisition of a second-hand Synth by a suburban father of three will have far-reaching and chilling consequences to his life.
Nancy Tellem, President of Microsoft’s Xbox Entertainment Studios said: “Humans not only questions personal relationships, but we loved how this sci-fi show toys with reality and our connection to technology.” She adds “This deal with Channel 4 and Kudos underscores Xbox Entertainment Studios' commitment to programming premium TV series with global partners and creating engaging interactive experiences – and sits alongside other original commissions including a Halo TV series executive produced by Steven Spielberg.”
Humans will premiere in the UK on Channel 4 and the Xbox console in 2015.
The original Real Humans was on Shine International’s MIP TV line up. Season one was particularly successful on French/German cultural channel Arte that is going to premiere Season Two on its May 16 prime time slot.