Red Arrow Studios International Acquires Distribution Rights To Allan Cubitt’s Adaptation of Eugene McCabe’s DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES

MAJOR BBC DRAMA ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY ALLAN CUBITT (“THE FALL”), PRODUCED BY THE IMAGINARIUM & SOHO MOON PICTURES

Red Arrow Studios International has picked up the distribution rights to major new drama series “Death and Nightingales”, based on Eugene McCabe’s modern Irish classic novel. Adapted and directed by Allan Cubitt (“The Fall”), the 3 x 60’ drama series is an Imaginarium and Soho Moon Pictures production for BBC Two.

Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish (“Elizabeth: The Golden Age”) is on board to produce, with James Mitchell (“Dreams of a Life”) for Soho Moon Pictures and Tommy Bulfin (“Peaky Blinders”) for BBC Two as Executive Producers. The series was commissioned by Patrick Holland and Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama and is being supported by Northern Ireland Screen.

Red Arrow Studios International will launch “Death and Nightingales” at MIPCOM 2018.

McCabe’s “Death and Nightingales” is a riveting story of love, betrayal, deception and revenge, set in the beautiful, haunting countryside of Fermanagh, Ireland in 1885: a place where neighbours observe each other and inform; a world of spies, confessions and double dealing; and where a pervading sense of beauty is shot through with menace and impending doom.

Set over a desperately tense 24-hour period, it is Beth Winters’ 25th birthday - the day she has decided to join the charming Liam Ward and escape from her limited life and difficult and complex relationship with her Protestant landowner stepfather, Billy. As decades of pain and betrayal finally build to a devastating climax, this powerful and gripping drama illuminates tensions that tear both families and nations apart.

Henrik Pabst, President of Red Arrow Studios International, and head of global scripted strategy for Red Arrow Studios, said “McCabe’s ‘Death and Nightingales’ is a thrillingly dark and haunting tale, with all the ingredients for an evocative, powerful TV drama – including conflicted nations and families, suspense and complex characters. With an impressive creative and production team behind the project, we’re confident this adaption will make for unmissable viewing and resonate with audiences worldwide.”

Jonathan Cavendish of The Imaginarium, said “We are very pleased to be working with the BBC, Red Arrow and Northern Ireland Screen on this superb adaptation by Allan Cubitt of one of Ireland’s greatest ever novels.”

The acquisition was concluded by Alex Fraser, who joined Red Arrow Studios International as SVP of Acquisitions earlier this year, working across scripted and non-scripted for the company.

About Red Arrow Studios International
Red Arrow Studios International is a world-leading TV distributor of scripted, formats and factual shows from a global network of in-house production companies, outstanding third-party producers and digital-content partners.

Led by Henrik Pabst, with offices in Munich, London, New York and Hong Kong, Red Arrow Studios International co-produces and finances global entertainment, and distributes acclaimed content to over 200 territories worldwide.

Red Arrow Studios International is part of Red Arrow Studios, which is comprised of 20 production companies in seven territories; world-leading digital studio, Studio71; and film distributor Gravitas Ventures. Red Arrow Studios is a ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE company, one of Europe's leading media groups.