All3Media International has announced a slew of international pre-sales for upcoming espionage thriller “Secret Service,” starring Gemma Arterton.
Produced by Potboiler Productions and adapted from the novel by ITV News anchor Tom Bradby, “Secret Service” explores the world of espionage against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the U.K. and Russia. The series follows senior MI6 officer Kate Henderson (Arterton) as a covert investigation uncovers evidence that a high-ranking U.K. politician may be working as a Russian asset.
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With trust shattered and her career on the line, Henderson must navigate the shifting sands of political loyalty, international threat and personal sacrifice.
In Europe, ARD Plus nabbed exploitation rights to “Secret Service” for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where it is implementing its release strategy in close cooperation with local SVOD platforms. In Germany, the five-part series will launch exclusively in a first window release on Deutsche Telekom’s MagentaTV streaming service before airing on ARD Plus. In Switzerland, the first window will be exclusively available on Swisscom’s Blue Play.
The series will debut in Spain on Movistar Plus+, the biggest Spanish pay TV and SVOD service, and in Greece on Cosmote and in Romania on AntenaPlay.
All3Media additionally licensed “Secret Service” across Scandinavia, where it will be available on its public broadcasters: NRK in Norway, DR in Denmark, YLE in Finland, RUV in Iceland and SVT in Sweden.
Stan acquired the series for Australia. In New Zealand, “Secret Service” was licensed to Sky New Zealand, which will broadcast the show on its free-to-air channel Three and ad-supported streaming service ThreeNow.
In a pan-territory deal covering India and other Asian territories, the series was picked-up by the BBC for premium SVOD drama channel BBC First and multi-genre SVOD service BBC Player.
Directed by Oscar winner James Marsh (“Man on Wire,” “The Theory of Everything”), “Secret Service” also stars Rafe Spall, Alex Kingston, Mark Stanley, Roger Allam, Amaka Okafor, Aoife Hinds, Avi Nash, Alma Prelec and Khalid Abdalla.
The series is produced by Potboiler Productions and executive produced by Gail Egan (“Funny Woman,” “A Most Wanted Man”) and Andrea Calderwood (“Die My Love,” “The Buccaneers”) as well as Tom Bradby and Chloe Sizer.
ITV director of drama Polly Hill commissioned the series, with drama commissioner Huw Kennair Jones overseeing the production on behalf of the broadcaster. All3Media International is serving as co-commissioner and handling the series’ international distribution.
“The international appetite for cinematic, high-stakes and star-studded programming is evident through this strong slate of pre-sales and it’s been a rare privilege to partner with Potboiler and ITV to bring an A-List led global espionage thriller to markets around the world,” said Maartje Horchner, All3Media’s executive VP of content.
“Gemma Arterton and Rafe Spall are on top form in this pacy thriller, that pairs powerhouse performances with edge-of-your-seat storytelling, propelling audiences across London, Malta, Finland and beyond.”
“Secret Service” will air in the U.K. on ITV1 and ITVX this spring.
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