Erik Barmack’s Wild Sheep joins New8 co-pro Death of a Horse

Former Netflix international originals boss Erik Barmack has boarded European co-pro drama Death of a Horse.

The series, produced by ITV Studios’ German label Windlight Pictures, was commissioned by ZDF Germany and Icelandic broadcaster RÚV in March as part of the latest projects from the New8 collective outfit.

Barmack’s Wild Sheep Content will distribute the series, which marks RÚV’s first contribution to the New8 initiative – an alliance between European PSBs which also includes DR, SVT, NRK, YLE, NPO and VRT.

Death of a Horse is a crime drama following Auður, a fiercely dedicated rider competing in the national horse championships with her prized stallion, Blesi.

When Blesi is found dead under suspicious circumstances on the morning of the final, Auður is devastated and shocked when the local authorities refuse to investigate. Taking matters into her own hands, she begins a dark journey into the secretive and powerful world of elite horse breeders in Iceland.

Windlight produces alongside Iceland’s ACT4, from which the series was created by Birkir Blær Ingólfsson and Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson. The pair produce along with Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Hörður Rúnarsson and Milla Ósk Magnúsdóttir, with Moritz Polter, Cosima Degler, Andreas Kohl and Tanja Piller producing for Windlight.

The series is co-written by Ingólfsson and Judith Angerbauer and will be directed by Óskar Þór Axelsson and Álfheiður Marta Kjartansdóttir.

Death of a Horse strengthens the relationship between ACT4 and Wild Sheep Content, which recently worked together on the Icelandic series Reykjavík Fusion.

Barmack said: “We’re proud to be working with some of the leading public broadcasters in Northern Europe along with exceptional producers at ACT4 and Windlight. Death of a Horse is grounded in Icelandic culture but has clear international appeal, and this partnership reflects exactly the kind of cross-border collaboration we believe in at Wild Sheep.”

Windlight managing director Polter added: “Death of a Horse is a bold, character-driven series that brings together some of the most exciting creative voices in Europe. What excites us about Death of a Horse is not only its powerful storytelling, but the spirit of collaboration behind it. ACT4 and Wild Sheep bring such passion and clarity to the project – it’s been a rewarding journey building this series together.”