Highgate looks for Cult following with Indian version of Russian scripted format

The Sect (Cekta) launched on Russian streamer TNT Premier

Highgate Entertainment, which adapted Danish drama The Killing in India, is looking to do the same with another scripted format, this time a psychological thriller from Russia, following a deal with LA-based Diamond Moving Pictures (DMP).

The Cult is being developed for the Indian market by LA-based Highgate Entertainment, which was founded by Amrita Sen, based on the eight-episode series The Sect (Cekta).

The original follows a psychotherapist and a nurse who run a covert deprogramming operation, specialising in controversial methods of liberating members from dangerous sects.

The series launched in 2019 on Gazprom Media-owned Russian network TNT’s streaming platform TNT Premier and was made by the broadcaster’s production company Good Story Media. It went on to be picked up internationally by streamer Walter Presents.

DMP acquired the rights for international development and licensing of the scripted format from Cyprus-based Best Story Told.

The show is the latest scripted format to be adapted by Sen who, prior to launching Highgate Entertainment, worked on the Indian adaptation of The Night Manager with The Ink Factory.

Highgate went on to make the Indian version of The Killing (Search: The Naina Murder Case) for Jio Hotstar alongside Applause Entertainment, and is also behind the Indian edition of Wheel of Fortune for Sony Pictures Networks India, hosted by Bollywood star Akshay Kumar.

Sen said: “India continues to embrace premium storytelling across languages and platforms, and The Cult offers the scale, emotional depth and universal themes that can connect with audiences both locally and internationally.”

The series will be produced in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati to create a “truly pan-Indian” adaptation with significant international potential, DMP said.

Highgate Entertainment will hold global distribution rights to the Indian remake as part of the agreement, which was coordinated by DMP head of international scripted formats Roxanne Pompa, formerly at CBS Corp and Paramount Global.

DMP is expanding its international scripted formats business, with the LA-based company building a wholly owned library of entertainment intellectual property for broadcasters, streamers and production partners worldwide.

The company was co-founded by showrunner Bill Diamond, entertainment executive, literary and talent manager Sheri Rosenberg Kelton and entertainment attorney Randy Mendelsohn.

DMP said it currently controls more than 50 entertainment assets, including 21 original scripted television series, one original unscripted format, 10 feature films, 24 wholly owned scripted formats, 18 international television formats and six international feature film formats.

Currently in pre-production is Rode Hard, a cross-border comedy series starring Rafał Zawierucha (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Mauricio Ochmann (Non Negotiable), written and directed by Diamond. It is set to film in the US and Poland.

Meanwhile, Broadway Bound: The Search for Broadway’s Next Star, DMP’s international musical theatre competition format developed with three-time Tony Award-winning producer Evan McGill, continues its global roll-out through a Filipino adaptation with Mandala Entertainment, followed by a live theatrical production in Manila.