A+E Studios and Ananey Studios have joined forces to produce a new eight-part supernatural thriller The Malevolent Bride (8X45’) which is due to begin filming in Israel later this year, where the series has been commissioned to air exclusively on KAN 11, Israel’s Public Broadcaster. The Malevolent Bride is the first collaboration between US-based A+E Studios and Israel-based Ananey Studios. A+E Studios will co-produce and secure global distribution for all territories outside of Israel.
The Malevolent Bride is a modern supernatural thriller that follows the hunt for a vengeful spirit terrorizing an unsuspecting Hasidic community in present-day Jerusalem. A pair of unlikely demon-hunters—Hasidic psychologist MALKI PRICE and agnostic young physicist BE’ER—join forces to uncover the secret behind the malevolent spirit’s origins. Their investigation will take them into the heart of the Hasidic occult, challenge the foundations of Price’s faith and Be’er’s secular beliefs, and pit them against a force of unimaginable evil. The series uses the horror genre to explore fears of sexuality and femininity within a religious community as well as the endless battle between religion and modernity. It also examines the complexities of traditional gender roles in orthodox communities.
The Malevolent Bride is created, written and executive produced by Noah Stollman (Our Boys, Fauda Seasons 3 & 4), Avigail Ben-Dor Niv and Israeli Television Academy Award-winning director Oded Davidoff (Pillars of Smoke, The Exchange Principle, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem), who will also serve as director. Barry Jossen and Tana Jamieson serve as executive producers for A+E Studios. Orly-Atlas Katz and Osnat Saraga serve as executive producers for Ananey Studios. Lenore Entertainment Group’s Adam Berkowitz brokered the deal between A+E Studios and Ananey and also serves as executive producer.
“In a wise and talented way, The Malevolent Bride navigates between modern and conservative, between realistic and metaphysical, between heresy and faith. It discerns insightfully at the demons hidden in a closed Orthodox community and in the souls of its protagonists,” said Ronny Perry, Head Of Drama at kan 11. “We are proud to invest in such courageous projects and are happy to enter a partnership with some of the best creators in Israel, A+E Studios and Ananey Studios.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Ananey to produce The Malevolent Bride, the first local-language production for A+E Studios outside of North America,” said Barry Jossen, President & Head of A+E Studios. “As we continue our rapid growth, it is our goal to produce high-quality series for designated primary markets that will also appeal to worldwide audiences. Great storytelling knows no limits. We are identifying the best projects anywhere in the world with creative attributes that include dynamic settings, stories and characters. They serve to captivate their local market and viewers everywhere. The perfect example of our creative goals is Malevolent Bride. We love it and feel confident that Malevolent Bride will be a big success.”
“The Malevolent Bride deals with issues of femininity, sexuality, community, religion and beliefs like no other show has dealt with before, all with suspense and drama and we’re excited to be partnering with A+E Studios to bring it to life,” said Orly Atlas Katz CEO Ananey and EVP ViacomCBS Israel. “We feel honored to be part of another sure hit from Noah Stollman, one of the most creative and talented writers in Israel and beyond. Above all, thank you to KAN 11 for believing in this project and for being such an amazing home for original content. Can’t wait for viewers everywhere to see it!”
