RTÉ’s new crime drama ‘Taken Down’ has secured an international distribution deal with British distributor, Fremantle. This well-timed acquisition comes only a month ahead of Mipcom, where Fremantle plans to introduce the Irish series to buyers.
The Cannes-based trade show takes place from October 15th -18th.
Speaking about the acquisition, Director of international acquisitions at Fremantle, Rebecca Dundon told Variety:
“Taken Down is a gripping and authentic drama, which highlights the reality of living as a refugee in Ireland today, (and will have) global audiences transfixed with its emotionally charged storyline and complex characters played by an amazing ensemble cast.”
‘Taken Down’ comes from the creative team behind ‘Love/Hate’. Spiral Pictures' Stuart Carolan (writer/ executive producer), Suzanne McAuley (executive producer) and David Caffrey (director) are joined by best-selling novelist Jo Spain to bring this brand new crime series to RTÉ and international audiences.
The series centres on Detective Jen Rooney (Lynn Rafferty) who investigates the violent death of a young Nigerian migrant found abandoned close to a Direct Provision Centre, where refugees wait for political asylum. Her investigation brings us into a twilight world of the new Ireland where slum landlords and criminals prey on the vulnerable.
The cast includes Aissa Maiga (‘Anything for Alice’, ‘Bianco e Nero’), Brian Gleeson (‘Resistance’, ‘Phantom Thread’), Lynn Rafferty (‘Love/Hate’), Orla Fitzgerald (‘The Young Offenders’) Jimmy Smallhorne (‘Love/Hate’, ‘Clean Break’), Barry Ward (‘End of The F*cking World’, ‘The Fall’), Enoch Frost (‘Skyfall’, ‘The Desert’) and Slimane Dazi (‘A Prophet’, ‘Rengaine’).
‘Taken Down’ is produced for RTÉ by Spiral Pictures with funding from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and Section 481.