Leading independent distributor all3media international has secured a host of sales for The Forge’s much-anticipated period thriller The Miniaturist, it announced, as broadcasters in Europe, Australia and Asia secure the three-part drama.
Based on the award-winning novel by Jessie Burton, one of the fastest-selling debut novels of the last decade, The Miniaturist is a haunting, sumptuous thriller commissioned by the BBC and co-produced with Masterpiece, USA in association with all3media international and Lemaise Pictures. The show will premiere on BBC One this December.
Since its launch at MIPCOM, where all3media international hosted a packed screening as part of the market’s official programme, the drama has now been picked up in Europe by SVT (Sweden), Spain’s Comunidad Filmin ITI, Neovision (Poland) and VRT (Flemish speaking Belgium), alongside a UK DVD/Video deal with Dazzler Media. Further acquisitions have been signed with BBC First in Australia for an initial window. Masterpiece/ PBS has the show for the USA.
In addition, international entertainment company Viasat World has also taken the drama to spearhead its new EPIC DRAMA channel – commenting on the acquisition, Karin Heijink, VP Content and Product at Viasat World, said: “We are delighted to expand our partnership with all3media and make Epic Drama the exclusive home of this must-see drama series in our territories. Expert content curators, we are resolute in our mission to secure the rights to the very best quality drama series to fulfil our lavish channel proposition, and this title is the perfect fit.”
Louise Pedersen, CEO at all3media international, commented, “This new drama from The Forge delivers a spectacular tightly-plotted thriller, bringing to life Jessie Burton’s best-selling novel and skilfully combining the book’s modern themes and multi-layered characters with a stunning period setting. The Forge’s contemporary dramas National Treasure and Ackley Bridge have already proved a great success globally, and based on the huge interest we received at MIPCOM alone, we’re confident The Miniaturist will prove another hit on the international stage.”
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy (X-Men: The New Mutants), Romola Garai (The Hour), Alex Hassell (Suburbicon), Paapa Essiedu (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Hayley Squires (I, Daniel Blake) and Emily Berrington (Humans), The Miniaturist tells the story of a house where, beneath the lavish beauty and privilege, lie forbidden passions and dangerous secrets.
In 1686, 18-year-old Nella Oortman knocks at the door of a grand house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam. Full of hopes and dreams, she has travelled from the quiet countryside to begin a new life as the wife of affluent merchant, Johannes Brandt. But, instead of Johannes, she’s met by his cold sister Marin and quickly realises that nothing is as it seems in the Brandt household. When Johannes finally appears he presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a doll’s house replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive Miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror what is happening within the house in unexpected ways–seemingly predicting and unravelling the future with unsettling accuracy.
As Nella begins to uncover the secrets of the doll’s house and those of the Brandt household she realises the escalating dangers that await them all. Does the Miniaturist hold their fate in her hands–and will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall?
