Acorn, Sky NZ team up for Kiwi thriller

The Sounds stars Matt Nable (Hacksaw Ridge)

AMC Networks-owned Acorn Media Enterprises (AME) and New Zealand pay TV operator Sky have partnered to commission eight-part Kiwi thriller The Sounds.

The drama series revolves around a mysterious disappearance in a small town in New Zealand, and is created by the author Sarah-Kate Lynch, who serves as the show’s lead writer.

The Sounds is a coproduction between All3Media-backed NZ prodco South Pacific Pictures and Toronto-based production studio Shaftesbury. Filming is underway in New Zealand and is expected to be completed by November this year.

Peter Stebbings will direct the psychological thriller series, with Kelly Martin and Christina Jennings executive producing for South Pacific and Shaftesbury respectively.

AME has secured the show’s rights in the US, Ireland and the UK, holds secondary rights in Australia and non-exclusive SVoD rights in New Zealand. Canadian public broadcaster CBC holds the broadcast rights in Canada, with Acorn TV retaining the home entertainment rights.

The series is filming on location around the greater Auckland and Northland areas of New Zealand throughout November 2019. Rachelle Lefevre (Under the Dome), Matt Whelan (Narcos) and Matt Nable (Hacksaw Ridge) star.

The series will premiere in 2020 on AME’s streaming platform Acorn TV in the US, and on Sky in New Zealand. All3Media International will distribute the series internationally in remaining territories.