Canal+ takes on Italian crime

MIPCOM: French pay TV broadcaster Canal+ is continuing its original drama partnerships across Europe, this time in Italy.

Canal+ is the first broadcast partner on the new drugs crime drama Zero Zero Zero, which has been commissioned under its Création Originale strand.

The 8×60’ drama is based on Roberto Saviano’s book about the war against global cocaine cartels, which follows his best-seller Gomorrah and its subsequent film and TV adaptations.

Produced by Italian prodco Cattleya and shot in English, the drama is scripted by Stefano Bises, Leonardo Fasoli and Roberto Saviano and directed by Stefano Sollima, also the director of Sky Italia drama series Romanzo Criminale and Gomorrah. Tandem holds worldwide distribution rights.

Canal+’s director of French drama and coproductions Fabrice de La Patellière said the broadcaster’s role in initiating a major international project will offer a unique series to its subscribers.

“Europe is producing new original series that are capable of reaching a global audience,” said Cattleya’s founder and partner Riccardo Tozzi.

Separately, Canal + has licensed Gomorrah for broadcast in 2015.