Copenhagen-based REinvent International Sales has closed Spain and Portugal with AMC Networks International Southern Europe, on the Finnish suspense disaster drama “Seconds”, Variety has learned exclusively.
One of REinvent’s MipTV highlights, “Seconds,” made a strong debut on Finnish pubcaster Yle this week, according to head of drama, Jarmo Lampela. “It will easily go over the average viewing target,” he said.
German co-production partner NDR is due to launch it later this year. Created by screenwriter Laura Suhonen (“Hooked”) alongside Fire Monkey co-founders Mikko Pöllä and Roope Lehtinen, the six-part series chronicles the aftermath of a horrific train disaster in a small Finnish town that claimed the lives of more than 60 people.
Accident investigator Marita Kail (Leena Pöysti) and her team are put in charge of the case and start digging into the events that led to the tragedy. The whole nation is rocked by the event, as is Marita’s psyche. A uniquely gifted investigator who can relate to eyewitnesses during interviews and vividly imagine their experiences, she is soon haunted by an unresolved past tragedy.
According to producer Lehtinen, a second season-soon to be greenlit by Yle will focus on a new case. “We want to keep the accident case for season 2 secret for now, but what I can say is that it will be completely different, although the investigation team -and key cast- will remain the same. We are very excited to soon get going with the production,” he added.
The financial partners on board the first show have all signed up for the new season, including Germany’s co-producer NDR, and the five Nordic pubcasters Yle, DR, SVT NR and RÚV, part of the Nordic 12 (N12) alliance.
Earlier Nordic premium shows sold by REinvent to AMC Networks Int’l Southern Europe include the Finnish crime drama “Transport” and Icelandic comedy “Ordinary People.”