Iceland-set thriller heads to UK PSB through deal with Paramount Global Content Distribution

Channel 4 has snapped up Iceland-set international crime thriller The Darkness from Paramount Global Content Distribution, Broadcast can reveal.

The English-language series, which is produced by CBS Studios, local indie Truenorth and LA-based Stampede Ventures for Icelandic broadcaster Síminn, stars Oscar-nominated Lena Olin as Hulda Hermannsdóttir, a detective investigating a shocking murder case while trying to navigate her own personal traumas.

Faced with an impending early retirement and forced to take on a new partner, Hermannsdóttir is determined to find the killer, even if it means putting her own life in danger.

It is based on the best-selling thriller series by Ragnar Jónasson and is directed and produced by Oscar-nominated helmer Lasse Hallström, in his first foray into TV series.

Although billed as a crime thriller, the series draws on the Scandi Noir scripted series.

The Darkness was one of Paramount Global Content Distribution’s key titles at the 2024 LA Screenings, and has already been licensed to SkyShowtime in the Nordics, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe, SBS in Australia and Showcase in Canada.

C4 head of acquisitions Polly Scates bought the series for the UK PSB, with the deal brokered for Paramount by Matt Downer, senior vice-president of content licensing, regional Europe. Paramount Global Content Distribution distributes the series outside of Iceland.

The series is one of several international co-productions from CBS Studios which also include hit Binge comedy Colin From Accounts and Paramount+ Australia’s NCIS: Sydney.

BBC1 tentpole acquisition King & Conqueror is due to air shortly in the UK.