The Sounds catches NBCU’s attention

NBCUniversal has picked up scripted thriller The Sounds for its thriller channel 13ÈME RUE in France.

The Sounds was written by novelist Sarah-Kate Lynch

The eight-part coproduction from New Zealand’s South Pacific Pictures and Canada’s Shaftesbury, with US streamer Acorn, Canadian pubcaster CBC and Sky TV in New Zealand, will premiere in France in January.

All3Media International is shopping the series, which is set in New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds and stars Rachelle Lefevre (Proven Innocent, Mary Kills People) and Matt Whelan (Go Girls, The Luminaries).

The 8×60’ series was created and written by novelist Sarah-Kate Lynch (The Bad Seed, 800 Words) and takes a missing person and a blissful marriage and turns it upside down in the sleepy settlement of Pelorus, where nothing is quite as it seems.

The Sounds made its debut on Sky TV in September and on CBC in October. It is also currently available on Acorn’s SVoD service in the US, Canada and UK.

Hector Lavigne, head of acquisitions and productions at NBCUniversal, said: “With its riveting twist-laden story, stunning landscapes and intriguing characters who all seem to have something to hide, The Sounds is the perfect new Sunday-night drama to grip our discerning 13ÈME RUE viewers. Premium international thrillers are always in strong demand on the channel and The Sounds will be a fantastic new addition to our schedules.”