Leading independent distributor all3media international has signed its first drama deal with China’s iQIYI, as UK-produced series Rellik and The Miniaturist are licensed by the leading Chinese online platform.
The deal includes exclusive streaming rights to innovative crime thriller Rellik (6 x 1-hour), a New Pictures and Two Brothers Pictures production for BBC One and Cinemax, and haunting period thriller The Miniaturist (3 x 1-hour) from The Forge, commissioned by the BBC and co-produced with Masterpiece, USA in association with all3media international and Lemaise Pictures. Formerly known as Qiyi, streaming video service iQIYI has more than 20 million subscribers throughout China.
Kit Yow, Sales Manager Asia Pacific at all3media international, commented, “We’re very pleased to conclude this significant new deal with iQIYI, representing our first drama acquisition by a Chinese platform. The agreement highlights the success of our ongoing strategy to forge closer relationships with local broadcasters and expand the reach of our catalogue through our Singapore-based regional sales office. Our factual entertainment content is already a strong performer with Chinese audiences and we know these impeccably produced, high-quality original thrillers will prove equally popular with iQIYI subscribers.”
This new deal with iQIYI adds to a raft of recently announced acquisitions for both dramas. Based on the award-winning novel by Jessie Burton and starring Anya Taylor-Joy (X-Men: The New Mutants) and Romola Garai (The Hour), The Miniaturist tells the story of a house where, beneath the lavish beauty and privilege, lie forbidden passions and dangerous secrets. The Miniaturist has secured multiple deals in Europe including SVT Sweden, Comunidad Filmin Spain, Neovision Poland and VRT Belgium, as well as BBC First (Australia) and Viasat World. The drama will premiere on BBC One this December and Masterpiece / PBS will air in the USA.
Innovative crime thriller Rellik, written by Harry and Jack Williams (The Missing) and starring Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones) and Jodi Balfour (The Crown), has already been picked up by HBO for Asia and Europe, Tele München (Germany and German-speaking territories), DBS Satellite (Israel) and VRT (Flemish Belgium). Executive produced by Willow Grylls (The Missing), Charlie Pattinson (Indian Summers) and Elaine Pyke (The Take), Rellik was also selected for numerous international festivals including Serien camp, MIA Rome and the Geneva International Film Festival.
iQIYI has a very strong library of both Asian and Western programming – from renowned local hits such as To Be a Better Man, First Love and Ode to Joy, to acclaimed international productions including the phenomenally successful Descendants of the Sun, the first Korean drama simulcast with Chinese subtitles to China, as well as This is Us and Inhumans. iQIYI also showcases variety hits including Two Days & One Night, The Rap of China, Sing! China, and U Can U BiBi.
