The German digital channel has boarded as co-producer the Danish crime thriller selected for the Berlinale Special Series.

The eight-part series by creator, head writer, concept director Kasper Barfoed is produced by Sam Productions for Discovery Network Denmark/Kanal 5. The story - based on an original idea by Adam Price and Søren Sveistrup - centres on an operation to rescue 15 hostages from a Copenhagen subway train.

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.

ZDFneo is part of the German public broadcasting group ZDF and caters for younger audiences (25-49). Dr. Simone Emmelius, Head of ZDFneo said: “In 2017, ZDFneo will be showcasing its first international co-productions, so extending our fiction portfolio in TV and online is key for us. Therefore, I’m glad that we have found suitable partners in Discovery, SAM and Studiocanal, and am sure that Below the Surface will intrigue our young target audience.”

The series will be introduced at the Berlinale Special Series on Wednesday. It will then premiere on Discovery Networks Denmark/Kanal 5 in the spring and will also air on Kanal 5 Sweden, TV Norge and RUV.

Studiocanal represents the show internationally.