DRG hears Cry, Inner Circle for Cannes

Jenna Coleman in The Cry

Upcoming BBC psychological thriller The Cry, a Scandi political drama and a sport-themed studio gameshow are among the new shows on UK-based distributor DRG’s Mipcom slate.

Produced by Synchronicity Films, which has a first-look deal with Nordic Entertainment Group-owned DRG, The Cry (4×60’) focuses on a couple whose marriage disintegrates when their baby son disappears while they are in Australia. The drama is now fully available for acquisition, having launched for pre-sales at MipTV in April.

Based on a novel by Per Schlingmann, The Inner Circle (8×60’) centres on a Swedish government minister’s plot to become Prime Minister and exposes the scheming, dirty tricks and power plays that take place beneath the surface. It is written and directed by Håkan Lindhée (Modus II) and produced by Fundament Film for Nordic Entertainment Group-owned Scandi streamer Viaplay. The series is available for pre-sale in Cannes.

The Inner Circle debuts on Viaplay in 2019

Also on DRG’s drama slate is a spin-off from the Czech remake of ITV drama Doc Martin. Constable Topinka (13×60’) follows the hapless policer officer from the original on his own adventures. Manhunt (3×60’), which stars Doc Martin’s Martin Clunes, is also on the slate alongside season three of HBO Europe’s Hungarian crime drama Aranyelet (8×60’). Season three of comedy sketch series Tracey Ullman’s Show forms the final part of DRG’s new scripted content.

In factual, true crime series Oslo Killing (6×60’) investigates the story of the violent murder of Anni Nielsen Iranzo in Oslo in 1974, while Manson’s Bloodline (4×60’) – DRG’s first ever original commission – documents the attempts by Charles Manson’s grandson to connect with him. Martin Clunes-fronted Islands of America (4×60’), produced by Buffalo Pictures, takes the actor on an exploration of the US’s 18,000 islands.

History series include one-offs Blitzed: Nazis on Drugs (1×60’) and King Arthur’s Britain: The Truth Unearthed (1×60’), while North Korea: Voices from the Secret State (1×60’) and Secret Iran: Girls of Revolution Street (1×60’) meet people struggling with life under oppressive regimes. DRG also has a range of technology-themed and arts docs such as How to Go Viral (1×60’), Handmade in the Pacific (4×45’) and Oceans Apart: Art & the Pacific (3×60’).

Among the formats, Ready, Set, Go! is a studio gameshow pitting two teams of famous sportsmen and women, each captained by a comedian, in a contest involving sporting knowledge and ability to complete idiotic tasks.

Elsewhere, Stripped Down takes six men with self-esteem issues and coaches them to gain the confidence to be able to strip off in front of a crowd at a major event. Culinary Camp is a competition-driven reality format in which celebrities take over a restaurant, vying to be the last man standing and take the title of top celebrity chef.

Finally, Ridiculously Smart challenges stand-up comedians to immerse themselves in new scientific research and then deliver a sell-out comedy routine on the topic within five days.