MGM+ nabs North American rights to Gemma Arterton-led ITV thriller Secret Service

Secret Service premiered on ITV in the UK in April

Potboiler Productions/All3Media International

Amazon-owned MGM+ has picked up the rights to British espionage drama Secret Service in the US, Canada, Latin America and Italy.

The series, which premiered on broadcaster ITV and sister streamer ITVX in April, stars Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) and is produced by Potboiler Productions.

All3Media International, which co-commissioned the series alongside ITV, is handling international distribution. The announcement of the deal comes after All3Media International’s parent company, All3Media, completed a merger with Banijay Entertainment last month.

Secret Service is based on Tom Bradby’s novel about a senior MI6 officer who must navigate treacherous waters after a covert investigation uncovers evidence that a high-ranking UK politician may be working as a Russian asset.

Bradby created and adapted the TV series alongside Jemma Kennedy. It is directed by James Marsh (Man on Wire) and Farren Blackburn (Gangs of London) and executive produced by Bradby, Gail Egan and Andrea Calderwood.

In addition to Arterton, the series stars Rafe Spall, Alex Kingston, Mark Stanley, Roger Allam, Amaka Okafor, Aoife Hinds, Avi Nash, Alma Prelec and Khalid Abdall. Secret Service was commissioned by ITV’s director of drama Polly Hill.

MGM+ operates as both a linear and streaming platform in the US, while it is primarily a streaming-only offering in the other markets where it operates.

The licensing agreement as negotiated by Doug Goodkind and Andy Miller for MGM+ with Jennifer Askin, Robin Chalmers and Andrew Birtles for All3Media International.

Secret Service has also been licensed to NPO (Netherlands), VRT (Flemish Belgium), RTP (Portugal), TRO (Georgia), WOWOW (Japan), Yes (Israel) and Hot (Israel).