Canal+ takes Israel’s Hostages

French broadcaster Canal+ has acquired rights to Israeli thriller Hostages.

The premium pay TV channel will air the original version of the scripted drama (10×52’), starring Ayelet Zurer (Man of Steel), in March.

The show, created by Omri Givon and Rotem Shamir and produced by Chaim Sharir, tells the story of a top surgeon whose family is seized by masked men after she is chosen to perform surgery on the president of Israel.

Distributed by Armoza Formats in partnership with Ace Entertainment, Hostages is now set to be the first ever Israeli TV series broadcasted on Canal+’ premium channel.

The French pay TV group’s appetite for series has increased recently, after it launched digital spin-off Canal+ Séries in September. The company last week acquired Fox’s 24: Live Another Day.

Hostages was nominated for best drama series in the 27th FIPA festival in Biarritz this week. Last September, Channel 10 emerged as the Israeli broadcaster of the series, which began airing after the US version made its debut on CBS.

The US version was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros Television, and was also picked up by UK broadcaster Channel 4. The BBC recently acquired the original Israeli version.

Additional reporting by Marie-Agnès Bruneau.