The South African production company Both Worlds Pictures in Cape Town has picked up the format rights for a possible South African version of the Nordic drama series The Bridge and wants to make a series set at the Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe with an all-African cast.
Both Worlds Pictures secured the exclusive rights for an African version of The Bridge from Endemol Shine, with Both Worlds Pictures that will look for a broadcast partner to create a South African version of the international series.
"The adaptation will feature an all-African cast and will be based upon the famous Beit Bridge, the physical border post separating South Africa and Zimbabwe," says Both Worlds Pictures in a press release.
An African version of the show would mark the 7th local version of the series, which has so far been remade in Malaysia/Singapore, Germany/Austria, Croatia/Serbia, U.S./Mexico, UK/France and Russia/Estonia.
Originally known in Sweden and Denmark as Bron/Broen, the format is a present-day crime thriller exploring the tensions between two neighbouring countries.
The drama series was created by Filmlance International, part of the Endemol Shine Group, in Sweden and Nimbus Film in Denmark.
Thierry Cassuto, the founder and executive producer at Both Worlds Pictures, says "We are thrilled to adapt the award-winning series The Bridge for South Africa and the continent".
"I've always been a great fan of the series and admired how sensitively remakes were made in parts of the world that are so culturally different. It shows how the story and the characters are able to strike a universal chord, and we intend to create an adaptation that will be equally unique and will resonate with African viewers".
Lars Blomgren, creator of The Bridge and the Endemol Shine Group's head of scripted for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, says "Thierry and the team at Both Worlds have such a huge enthusiasm for our beloved series and we couldn't think of anyone better to create the first African saga".
"It’s been a joy to watch the various iterations of the format develop around the world and we can't wait to see the direction they take this one in."
Both Worlds Pictures produced ZANEWS Puppet Nation as well as Point of Order for StarSat, the South African division of China's StarTimes satellite pay-TV service, and Parlement, Parlement for M-Net's Afrikaans language kykNET (DStv 144) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.
Both Worlds recently launched a high-end scripted content division under the supervision of award-winning South African screenwriter Karen Jeynes.
