The CW Network recently announced its acquisition of U.S. broadcasting rights to the eco-thriller drama series ‘The Swarm.’ The announcement was made by Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment at The CW, following the company’s fall schedule presentation.
‘The Swarm,’ an eight-part series originally aired in Germany earlier this year, where it premiered on ZDF. The show represents a significant undertaking by Frank Doelger, an executive producer known for his work on the global hit ‘Game of Thrones.’
The drama series brings to the fore an innovative storyline: an unknown enemy from the depths of the ocean that seeks retaliation due to mankind’s indiscriminate treatment of the seas. Before moving to ZDF’s streaming service, it made its initial appearance out of competition in Berlin.
The ensemble cast of ‘The Swarm’ includes prominent actors like Alexander Karim (‘The Lawyer’), Cécile de France (‘The New Pope’), Leonie Benesch (‘The Crown’), Barbara Sukowa (‘Hannah Arendt’), and Takuya Kimura (‘I Come With The Rain’).
Produced by Schwarm TV Productions, a collaboration between Intaglio Films and ndF, ‘The Swarm’ is developed for ZDF, France Télévisions, Italy’s Rai Fiction, Viaplay, Hulu Japan, ORF, and Switzerland’s SRF. It is co-produced with Bravado Fiction and Beside Production and cooperates with ATHOS. The show’s world sales are managed in a unique arrangement between Beta Film and ZDF Studios.
The successful launch of ‘The Swarm’ in Europe illustrates the increasing global appeal of European series, as suggested by Robert Franke, ZDF Studios VP of Drama. Franke used ‘The Swarm’ as an example of a series that is ‘cutting through the clutter’ as he examined the shift in market dynamics from ‘push to pull’ away from U.S. content.
