Beta Film’s acclaimed series “Bookish” and “Professor T” have secured broadcast deals with major French networks and platforms.
Canal+ has picked up both seasons of “Bookish,” the English-language crime series created by and featuring Primetime Emmy Award winner Mark Gatiss, as well as the successful crime film series “Death in Denmark.”
Set against the backdrop of post-war London, “Bookish” has been a global success, reaching over 100 territories across five continents. The series had a robust debut on UKTV in the U.K., averaging 1.5 million viewers and securing its place as the channel’s second-highest premiere ever. Season 2 brings back Polly Walker (“Bridgerton”) and Connor Finch (“Everything I Know About Love”) alongside Gatiss, with a talented supporting cast that includes Elliot Levey (“We Were the Lucky Ones,” “Quiz”), Blake Harrison (“Still Up,” “World on Fire”), Buket Kömür (“Our House”), Jason Watkins (“The Game,” “McDonald & Dodds”), Miranda Richardson (“The Last Anniversary”), and Simon Callow (“Étoile”).
Produced by Eagle Eye Drama, a subsidiary of ITV Studios, in collaboration with Happy Duck Films and benefiting from the Belgian Tax Shelter, the show is set to premiere on Canal+’s Polar+ channel on May 16.
In parallel, “Death in Denmark” follows the relentless Danish police duo, Ida and Magnus, as they navigate the dark intersections of legacy and contemporary crime. Produced by Eikon Media for ARD Degeto, the films achieved remarkable success in Germany, garnering the highest market share for a Thursday night crime film in over 2 years, averaging 6.5 million viewers and 28.7% market share.
Additionally, Beta Film has secured a deal for “Professor T” with 13ème Rue, a pay channel backed by NBCUniversal. This crime drama set in Cambridge stars Ben Miller (“Bridgerton”) as the renowned Professor Jasper Tempest. Produced by Eagle Eye Drama for ITV and PBS, “Professor T” has been successfully sold in nearly 120 territories worldwide and is returning for a fifth season. The new season will see Miller team up again with Frances de la Tour (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”), who reprises her role as the professor’s mother, Adelaide Tempest. PBS Distribution holds the North American rights.
On the streaming front, HBO Max France is set to debut season two of “Maxima,” a Dutch royal drama chronicling the love story of Máxima and Willem-Alexander. Produced by Millstreet Films in collaboration with FBO and Beta Film, “Maxima” has been sold in 85 territories and received high ratings on various networks, including Videoland in the Netherlands, Rai in Italy, TV2 in Denmark, and Atresmedia in Spain. The series also ranked among the Top 10 on HBO Max in Latin America for several weeks. A third season is in development, along with a spinoff titled “The Other Royals – A Maxima Story,” which is currently in production.
