Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has announced that it has sold the highly anticipated Alex Rider series, an adaptation of Anthony Horowitz acclaimed young adult spy novels produced by SPT-backed Eleventh Hour Films (EHF), in nearly 100 territories around the world. This follows last week’s announcement that the series will be airing on Amazon Prime Video in the UK from June 4th. Alex Rider was the first series commissioned by SPT’s international production and distribution divisions on spec, greenlighting the project independently to be distributed worldwide.
“In these unprecedented times, keeping people entertained with great stories and remaining connected with one another have never been more important. Alex Rider highlights both: it marks a unique model, with our International Production and Worldwide Distribution arms working hand-in-hand from green-light through to final sale. It has been a fantastic collaboration, and a strategic risk we were confident to make with such popular IP we truly believed would have broad, worldwide appeal. Great stories, working together.” Keith Le Goy, Sony Pictures Television, President, Worldwide Networks & Distribution commented.
Le Goy explained that Movistar+ will broadcast the series in Spain, and Nordic Entertainment Groups (NENT Groups) have picked up the series for their streaming service Viaplay in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The series has also been picked up by Kinopoisk HD in Russia, and will air on Nova in Greece, and DSmart in Turkey. AXN will broadcast the series across multiple European territories, including Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Le Goy added that STARZPLAY have picked up the series for broadcast in multiple territories across the Middle East and North Africa, MNET have acquired the series for Showmax across Sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa. Across Asia, buyers include Sony Liv in India, Korea Telecom in South Korea, and U-Next bringing the series to Japan. TVNZ are streaming the series in New Zealand. Sales in more territories including the US, China and Australia will be announced soon.
“We are so thrilled that Alex Rider is finally to be unleashed on audiences around the world! When we started on this unique journey our aim was to create a premium drama, that paid justice to Anthony’s novels, with exciting action scenes, nerve shredding tension and great acting. Eleventh Hour have delivered just that. And at a time when the world needs escapism, there’s no better time for a new hero to step forward – Alex Rider, your moment has arrived!” Wayne Garvie, Sony Pictures Television, President, International Production commented.
“Sony’s original approach to commissioning and mission to find buyers who would truly champion the drama in every territory around the world has been both innovative and refreshing. We are thrilled that the first season of Alex Rider is going to be such a global event in 2020, 20 years after the first Alex Rider book was published.” Eve Gutierrez, Executive Producer, Eleventh Hour Films, commented.
The eight-part series is adapted from the international bestselling Alex Rider novels from Anthony Horowitz, which were first introduced by Horowitz in 2000. They quickly became a global phenomenon, selling over 21 million copies worldwide, with the books translated into 28 languages. The 12th book in the series – NIGHTSHADE – was published earlier this year, to mark the series 20th anniversary. “Alex Rider really comes of age in this gripping adaptation of my books. It’s exactly the show I wanted to see and I’m sure it will appeal to a very wide audience.” Anthony Horowitz commented.
Otto Farrant stars as Alex Rider, with Brenock O’Connor as his best friend Tom. The stellar cast also includes Stephen Dillane as Alan Blunt, Vicky McClure as Mrs Jones, and Andrew Buchan as Ian Rider. The Alex Rider adaptation is penned by BAFTA award-winning screenwriter Guy Burt (Bletchley Circle, The Borgias, The Hole), and begins with the second book in the series, Point Blanc, published in 2001 in the UK and 2002 in North America. Eve Gutierrez and Jill Green serve as Executive Producers for the TV series for EHF, alongside Horowitz and Burt, and Andreas Prochaska, who also served as series director on multiple episodes.