Nordic Entertainment (NENT) has announced a co-production and development agreement between its Viaplay streaming service and Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), covering six English language original international series. The six series will be shown exclusively as Viaplay Originals in the Nordic and Baltic regions, the Netherlands and Poland, with MGM handling distribution in the rest of the world.
The first two productions will be "Billy the Kid" and "Last Light". "Billy the Kid" is an eight-episode romantic drama serial from Michael Hirst starring UK actor Tom Blyth as the outlaw. This is a co-production with EPIX Studios and MGM International Television Productions in association with NENT.
The second production is the five-part apocalyptic thriller "Last Light" in association with Peacock, based on Alex Scarrow’s best-selling novel. The serial is originated by Viaplay Studios, Make It Happen Studio and Reinvent. It stars Matthew Fox and Joanne Froggatt. Dennie Gordon is director and executive producer.
Rola Bauer, president of MGM International Television Productions, said NENT’s focus on developing "premium, global stories through an international lens" matches his company’s mission. The first two projects will entertain, said Bauer, and will address important social issues, will capturing audiences’ attention worldwide.
MGM International Television Productions currently has six greenlit projects in production since launching just over a year ago. The studio currently has first-look deals with Sydney Gallonde, Erika Halvorsen, Tamara Tenenbaum and Spanish talent manager Ruth Franco.
