Banijay Rights, the leading distribution arm of Banijay Group, has acquired international distribution rights to new Spanish drama HIERRO.

An 8 x 60’ Movistar+ original series, HIERRO is co-produced by Portocabo, Atlantique Productions and ARTE France. The crime thriller, which takes place on a secluded island in the Canary Islands archipelago, is created by Pepe Coira and directed by Jorge Coira.

Currently in production on the island of El Hierro, the drama, starring Spanish actress Candela Peña (Princesas, Torremolinos 73) and the Argentine actor Darío Grandinetti (Wild Tales, Talk To Her), will launch on Movistar+ in the first half of 2019.

HIERRO is the first Spanish language drama in the Banijay Rights multi-genre, 20,000 hour catalogue. The Spanish-French-German co-production will join a strong fiction slate which already includes global scripted successes such as Versailles, Wolf Creek and Occupied. The company will be responsible for the international distribution of all rights for HIERRO, with the exception of France, Germany, Spain and Latin America.

Caroline Torrance, Head of Scripted, Banijay Rights, comments: “From the first time we saw HIERRO, we immediately knew we wanted to be a part of it. With electric storytelling and premium production values, this character-driven drama is set to be a hit with international audiences. We are really excited to work with, support and distribute the work of such acclaimed production talent.”

Alfonso Blanco, Executive Producer, Portocabo, comments: “HIERRO has come a long way since winning the Best Project of the Year at Berlinale 2015, and has become a reality thanks to the combined commitment of Movistar+, Arte, Banijay Rights, Atlantique Productions and all their respective teams. We could not have asked for better partners for such an ambitious co-production.”

Olivier Wotling, Director of Fiction, Arte, highlights: “Arte is proud to participate in the international co-production of HIERRO. After developing projects in Norway, Denmark and, more recently, Germany and Italy, we are delighted to continue our European co-production journey with a Spanish project. The high quality scripts, combined with the complex characters and the backdrop of magnificent landscapes, instantly appealed to us.”

Olivier Bibas, Executive Producer, Atlantique Productions, says: “HIERRO is a further step forward in our ambition to produce European TV series with a strong local component that also have the potential to travel around the world. Atlantique Productions, together with Portocabo, led by Alfonso Blanco, is an excellent example of European collaboration. We are very happy to be producing this series for Movistar+ and Arte France.”