ZDFE picks up assassination drama

German distributor ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE) is rolling out the latest Scandinavian drama hit, Death of a Pilgrim.

ZDF Enterprises has picked up rights to the series for international distribution, while pubcaster ZDF will air it in Germany on a date yet to be announced.

Death of a Pilgrim focuses on the assassination of Swedish prime minister Olof Palme in 1986 and is based on the award-winning Fall of the Welfare State trilogy of books from author Leif GW Persson.

The four-part series, featuring Wallander star Rolf Lassgård, focuses on the head of the national crime unit who takes on another case while still frustrated at his failure to stop the assassination or solve the crime.

The coproduction, between Scandinavian pubcasters SVT, DR, NRK and YLE along with Stockholm-based post-production outfit Chimney Pot, premiered on SVT1 in Sweden on January 13 to an audience of 1.8 million – a 50% share.

Alexander Coridass, president and CEO of ZDF Enterprises, said: “We have a long-standing experience in worldwide distribution of Scandinavian crime programmes and are convinced that we’ll be able to help make Death of a Pilgrim another international hit.”

The series had financial support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond and the Nordvision Fund, and was directed by Kristoffer Nyholm and Kristian Petri, written by Sara Heldt and Johan Widerberg, and produced by Maria Nordenberg.