Mipcom: Studiocanal handles the Danish hostage series based on an idea by Adam Price and Søren Sveistrup.

More than 70 territories have acquired the 8x50’ show Below the Surface (Gidseltagningen) produced by SAM Productions for Discovery Networks Denmark/Kanal 5. The show created and directed by Kasper Barfoed (Dicte) centres on an operation to rescue 15 hostages from a Copenhagen subway train. 

It examines how the fallout from the crisis affects every level of Danish society, from the politicians, who argue whether or not to negotiate with terrorists, and the press, who must decide where to draw the line in their coverage, to the public, who know that it could easily have been them.

Johannes Lassen and Sara Hjort Ditlevsen play members of the terror task force and Paprika Steen a reporter who acts as a go-between between the police and the captors. 

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, said: “Below The Surface is an exciting and thought-provoking thriller which ratchets up the tension until you are literally on the edge of your seat.”

Francoise Guyonnet, Executive Managing Director TV Series at Studiocanal also said: “We are delighted to license Below The Surface to yet another international broadcaster.  The subject matter in this absorbing drama is so relevant to the world we all live in today, and we are sure each tense and action-filled episode will resonate with BBC Four viewers.”
The UK pubcaster plans to broadcast the show in 2018. A returning season of Below the Surface has been commissioned by Discovery Networks Denmark, that just received development support rom the Danish Film Institute's Public Service Fund.  

At Mipcom, Studiocanal launched yesterday the event-drama thriller The Lawyer, only Nordic drama series selected for MIPCOM International Screenings. A packed audience of industry people attended the screening of the first of 10 episodes introduced by main actors Alexander Karim and Malin Buska, concept writer and best-selling author Jens Lapidus (who developed the idea with Hans Rosenfeldt and Michel Hjorth), producer Niklas Wikström Nicastro, (SF Studios), and Viaplay’s Fredrik Ljungberg.

Watch out for our interview with The Lawyer's team published in our Friday newsletter.