Sierra/Engine takes Korean format to US

Feature film specialist Sierra/Engine is continuing its push into television by picking up the US rights to a Korean drama series.

Nick Meyer and Marc Schaberg’s Sierra/Affinity and Chris Philip’s Engine partnered in September last year to move into the television market.

The new company has now acquired the format to SBS International’s Korean revenge drama Cruel Temptation which it will develop for the English-speaking US market.

Sierra/Engine will also partner with Pomodoro Studios, helmed by former Sony senior VP Brendan Fitzgerald, to develop a Spanish language version for the US Hispanic and Latin American markets.

The original series aired 129 episodes in Korea with a 40% audience share on SBS. It has previously been remade in China and the Philippines.

The plot starts with a woman who is thought to have drowned after finding that her husband had cheated on her with her best friend. Her body is discovered by a wealthy businesswoman who assumes her identity and sets out for revenge.

The deal was brokered by Stu Tenzer at Coast Road Media and Jeremiah McMillan at Global Content Group.