PARIS — Previously nabbed by Netflix in the States, Canal Plus’ crime thriller “Spiral” (Engrenages) has now been acquired by U.S. web MHz Networks.
Deal covers all four seasons — comprising 40 one-hour episodes — of the French-language show.
Cop drama depicts with gritty realism the day-to-day life of a femme captain (Caroline Proust) and her two lieutenants at a Parisian police unit, as well as a judge (Philippe Duclos), and two lawyers (Audrey Fleurot, Gregory Fitoussi). The ensemble show follows the characters as they investigate murder cases, and unveil corruption at the highest levels of the judicial system, while struggling to build a life outside of work.
Newen Distribution, the shingle repping “Spiral” in international markets, licensed the fourth season of the series to the broadcasters of the past three seasons, including BBC4, which became a co-producer of season four.
In the run up to Mipcom, “Spiral” has also attracted new nets, including GloboSat in Brazil.
Produced by Son et Lumiere, “Spiral” bowed on Canal Plus in 2005 and has been a ratings hit.
Season four, which deals with illegal immigrants and radical activists-turned-terrorists, is now airing Canal Plus to strong ratings. The paybox has already commissioned season five. Anne Landois who co-wrote season three and four is back on season five as showrunner.
In other deals, Newen Distribution has pre-sold “Global Gachis” (Global Waste), an investigative docu based on Brit author Tristram Stuart’s “Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal,” to RTL in Germany, ORF in Austria, SVT in Sweden and Be TV and RTBF in Belgium.
Helmed by Olivier Lemaire and produced by French press agency CAPA, “Gachis” follows Stuart as he investigates how farmers, industrialists and consumers in the world’s richest countries throw out nearly half their food for the wrong reasons. Docu lensed across Europe, Costa Rica, Pakistan, the U.S. and Japan.
