ZDF, MBC, France TV, Hulu Japan team up for surveillance drama Concordia

Concordia is set in an AI-powered utopian community

Germany’s ZDF, MBC in the Middle East, France Télévisions and Hulu Japan have joined forces to commission Concordia (6×45’), a surveillance thriller set in an experimental utopian community.

The English-language project comes from Intaglio Films, the scripted drama joint venture between Beta Film and ZDF Studios, and Frank Doelger (Game of Thrones, The Swarm, John Adams).

Production is already underway and will take place in various locations in Rome, northern Italy and Leipzig, Germany, with Barbara Eder (The Swarm, Barbarians, Cop Stories) directing and Doelger serving as showrunner.

Created by Mike Walden (The Frankenstein Chronicles, U Want Me 2 Kill Him) and Nicholas Racz (The Burial Society, The Real Thing), the world of Concordia is powered by artificial intelligence to ensure a freer and fairer society. However, as the community nears its 20th anniversary, with cities around the world lining up to replicate its success, the secret behind its creation is revealed, threatening to undo what its creators have achieved.

The cast is led by Christiane Paul (Counterpart), Steven Sowah (For Jojo, Before We Grow Old), Ruth Bradley (Ted Lasso, Humans), Nanna Blondell (Black Widow, House of the Dragon), Kento Nakajima (Detective Novice, She Was Pretty) and Jonas Nay (Line of Separation, Deutschland 83).

The series is written by Racz, Isla van Tricht and Mike Walden and produced by Tobias Gerginov, Jacob Glass and Sergio Ercolessi. Doelger is executive producing alongside Ute Leonhardt, Rafferty Thwaites, Jan Wünschmann and Robert Franke.

It is jointly distributed by ZDF Studios and Beta Film and is financially supported by Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, Sächsische Staatskanzlei and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

Intaglio Film’s other credits include the upcoming eight-part eco-thriller The Swarm, an international coproduction with ndFI, ZDF, France Télévisions, Rai, ORF, SRF, Viaplay Group and Hulu Japan.