Beta Film and ZDF Studios have sold "The Swarm" to The CW. The deal with the major US network serves as a milestone for European productions.
The deal for "The Swarm" was negotiated by The CW’s Jessica Lund and Kevin Levy together with Beta’s Jeffrey Engelen and Oliver N. Bachert. The series is produced by Schwarm TV Productions GmbH & Co KG, a joint venture between Intaglio Films and ndF IP for ZDF, France Télévisions, Rai Fiction, Viaplay Group, Hulu Japan, ORF, SRF, in co-production with Bravado Fiction and Beside Production, in co-operation with ATHOS KG.
Earlier this year, "The Swarm" scored high ratings with up to ten million views per episode (linear and catch-up) in Germany alone. The series runs throughout the year in the UK, Japan, Italy, France, Spain, Scandinavia, and Central Europe among others. Beta Film and ZDF Studios are handling world sales. The title celebrated its world premiere at this year’s Berlinale and was recently acquired by SKY UK and Spain’s Movistar+ Plus.
Produced by Intaglio Films’ Frank Doelger, ndF IP’s Managing Director Eric Welbers, Academy Award-nominated Marc Huffam and Ute Leonhardt, "The Swarm" is directed by Barbara Eder, Luke Watson and Philipp Stölzl, stars Alexander Karim, Cécile de France, Leonie Benesch, Barbara Sukowa and Takuya Kimura.
The series is based on Frank Schätzing’s international bestseller by the same name, published around the globe and translated into 27 languages. It chronicles the struggle of humankind against an unknown enemy that lives in the depths of the sea: When the reckless treatment of the oceans threatens the natural habitat of this mysterious collective, it strikes back.