News

Spearheading a new strategy to grow an international slate, Israel-based Yes Studios has picked up “Haze,” an Icelandic crime series produced and created by Sigurjón Kjartansson.

The eight-part drama stars Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, whose acting credits include “Succession” and “Game of Thrones.”

Produced by Kjartansson’s banner S800, “Haze” has already been commissioned by Icelandic broadcaster Ruv. Filming will begin this Summer for an expected delivery in 2026.

Yes Studios has boarded international distribution rights for the series and also holds rights for the scripted format. The company will formally launch the series to buyers at next week’s Content London where it’s expected to kick off pre-sales.

Kjartansson previously co-wrote and executive produced some of Iceland’s biggest titles, “Trapped” and “Katla,” both helmed by Baltasar Kormákur. For “Haze,” he has assembled a topnotch creative team, including producer Erlinger Jack Gudmundsson, writers Gagga Jonsdottir (“Trapped”) and David Mar Stefansson...

Scripted Adaptation

Yes Studios comedy “Bloody Murray” is set to get a Georgian adaptation, Variety has learned. Cavea+, the first official streaming platform in Georgia, has picked up the series about roommates Murray, a romcom expert, and gynaecologist Dana, who find themselves clashing over a man.

The series is the first ever scripted Israeli show to be adapted in the Eastern European country. It has also been acquired by CBC in Canada and Arte in France/Germany. Season 2 is currently in development.

“Bloody Murray” was created and written by Stav Idisis and produced by Yes Studios and Kastina Communications. Yes Studios has global rights to the tapes and format.

“We are honoured that ‘Bloody Murray is a trailblazer and will be the first Israeli scripted series adapted in Georgia,” said Sharon Levi, managing director at Yes Studios. “Cavea+ has invested a great deal of faith in our wonderful show and...

Exclusive: Israeli roommate comedy Bloody Murray has found a European buyer in France and Germany’s Arte.

Yes Studios’ Series Mania award-winner’s first run will launch on the broadcaster this week under the name Dana & Murray, around a year after selling to CBC in Canada.

Created by Stav Idisis, the show stars Naomi Levov (On the Spectrum) and Rotem Sela (Beauty and the Baker) as the title characters. Dana is a gynaecologist and Murray a film lecturer specializing in romantic comedies. Their lives change when Murray flees the scene of a hit and run, and the man she crashed in to, Lior, shows up at her apartment – where he meets Dana and the two fall madly in love. However, Murray soon realizes that she has her own feelings for Lior.

A second season is in development following a re-commission by yes TV. The series was created and written by...

Exclusive: Fauda outfit Yes Studios is pushing into the premium docs space with a feature about a man who spent 44 hours suffering from locked-in syndrome. Scroll down for the trailer.

In 44 Hours, which has so far been picked up by France’s Arte and Germany’s Swr, the moving story of Gil Avni will be told in forensic detail. Avni, a sports-mad and healthy father of two, was rushed to hospital after being taken suddenly ill and was pronounced brain-dead, given just a few hours to live. While his family and friends were saying goodbyes, he was aware of what was happening for 44 hours, before he miraculously woke up and became one of only three known worldwide cases of locked-in syndrome.

Avni remembers his experience in microscopic detail and the 83-minute film also features interviews with those closest to him and the medics who cared for him. EP is Einat-Emma...

Israeli network Yes TV has greenlit a second season of Series Mania Award-winning comedy Bloody Murray, we can reveal.

Production will begin next year on Stav Idisis’ romcom, which is headlined by Naomi Levov (On the Spectrum) and Rotem Sela (Beauty and the Baker), who play two 35-year-old roommates looking for love.

The Gynaecologist and University Lecturer’s lives change when Murray (Levov) ditches the scene of a hit-and-run and the man she crashed into, Lior, shows up at her apartment – where he meets Dana (Sela) – and the two fall madly in love. Murray realizes her own feelings for Lior and chaos ensues as she convinces herself Lior is the one for her.

The show, which won the Best Comedy Award at Series Mania 2022, will launch in 2024. Director is Yogev Yefet, Kastina Communications and Yes TV are producers and Yes Studios handles distribution.

Last week, Deadline revealed Amazon Prime Video...

Croatian production house Antitalent has signed an option agreement to develop and produce a local version of the best-selling global format “Your Honor,” the hit drama whose American remake for Showtime stars Emmy winner Bryan Cranston.

The series follows a judge who must deal with the fallout when his son is involved in a hit-and-run that gets him embroiled with an organized crime family. Facing impossible choices, he discovers how far a father will go to save his son’s life.

The Balkan remake will travel across the former Yugoslavia with a story that spans Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia, according to Antitalent’s Danijel Pek. Speaking to Variety at the Sarajevo Film Festival, the producer said: “Our aim is to produce a high-quality TV series with the participation of some of the best authors and talents from the region.”

“Your Honor” is the remake of the Israeli series “Kvodo,...