Viu to cross The Bridge

The original Swedish/Danish version of The Bridge

Viu, the OTT service from Hong Kong-based telecoms and media group PCCW, has ordered a local version of Scandinavian crime drama format The Bridge.

The 10-episode series is being produced by Endemol Shine Group, marking the first time the production giant has created original scripted content for an Asian OTT service.

The Bridge was originally created and written by Hans Rosenfeldt and was a joint production between Sweden’s Filmlance International, part of Endemol Shine Group, and Denmark’s Nimbus Film. Swedish pubcaster SVT, DR in Denmark, ZDF in Germany and NRK in Norway were the original coproducing broadcasters.

The original has aired in more than 188 territories worldwide, while adaptations – each split between two countries – have come from the UK and France, the US and Mexico, Germany and Austria, and Russia and Estonia.

The crime drama sees a body found on the border of two countries, forcing investigators from each to pair up to solve the case.

The Viu adaptation is set on the border of Singapore and Malaysia, and will again see two detectives working together to catch the killer who is intent on highlighting social problems plaguing both sides.

The series is expected to shoot in July before airing in Malaysia and Singapore later this year. Casting has not yet been announced.