ZDF SECURES DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO CHANNEL 4’S “BEFORE WE DIE”

ZDF Enterprises has secured the distribution rights to "Before We Die." The new six-part crime series was produced by Eagle Eye Drama for Channel 4. “The original Swedish thriller “Before We Die” is one of my favorite thrillers in the Walter Presents collection and having the opportunity to re-imagine such a wonderful story is an absolute honor and a pleasure,”  Walter Luzzolino, CEO Eagle Eye Drama, said.

“Before We Die” is produced by Eagle Eye Drama in association with Caviar. The production is also supported by Screen Flanders and the Belgian tax shelter via Caviar Film Financing. Jo McGrath, Walter Iuzzolino, and Bert Hamelinck serve as executive producers for the series. ZDF also distributed the original Swedish version, sold to Google, iTunes, Amazon, NPO in the Netherlands, Australia’s SBS, VRT in Belgium, Okko in Russia, and Germany’s ZDF and ProSiebenSat.1, among several others. 

Eagle Eye Drama, the team behind global drama brand Walter Presents, is filming the series in England and Belgium. The team estimates the project's completion in Spring 2021. “Before We Die” will be directed by leading Belgian director Jan Matthys, and has been adapted and written by Matt Baker. “The team behind Walter Presents have superb judgment when it comes to selecting international dramas for their platform and 'Before We Die' is no exception," Robert Franke, Vice President ZDFE drama at ZDF Enterprises, said. "A brilliant thriller that will keep audiences in suspense.”

Based on the Swedish series that goes by the same name, “Before We Die” stars Lesley Sharp, Patrick Gibson and Vincent Regan. The thriller tells the story of a detective from the organized crime unit whose estranged son becomes an undercover informant in a brutal murder investigation involving Eastern European drug gangs. “We’ve assembled an outstanding cast and truly talented production team with Jan Matthys at the helm to deliver a glossy, tension-packed, memorable British thriller,” Luzzolina said.