NENT boards GoT exec’s eco drama

Nordic Entertainment (NENT) Group has boarded an ecological thriller series from Game of Thrones producer Frank Doelger.

Frank Doelger

Based on Frank Schätzing’s bestselling novel, The Swarm has been in the works since 2018. The 8×45’ series is the inaugural production from Intaglio, the Berlin-based drama joint venture between Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises.

With pubcasters ZDF (Germany), Rai (Italy) and France Télévisions already on board the project, NENT has now joined as a coproduction partner and will air the series as an original on its Viaplay streaming service.

The show sees a group of scientists tasked with investigating strange behaviour by marine animals around the world, only to discover that the ocean depths conceal a mysterious collective intelligence that is suffering the effects of human pollution and has now decided to fight back.

Multiple Emmy winner Doelger is exec producing alongside Schätzing and Eric Welbers. Filming for The Swarm is set to begin this year.

Filippa Wallestam, NENT’s chief content officer, said: “The team that will bring this very topical book to the screen is exceptional. This is a unique and urgent story that confronts us with a planet that is dangerously out of balance.

“The Swarm will be a complex, ambitious and visually stunning series. At the same time, it is a statement production from NENT Group and our partners that will thrill and unsettle audiences in the Nordic region and around the world.”

The Swarm will premiere exclusively across the Nordics on Viaplay, which is aiming to premiere 30 originals this year.