SkyShowtime, the European streaming joint venture between Comcast and Paramount Global, revealed on Sunday a slew of original and exclusive series that will debut this year. Premieres later on the service on 1966.
CEO Monty Sarhan announced during his keynote address at the Marketplace of the Film in Cannes that overall SkyShowtime original productions from different regions and countries will premiere on the service of 1966 . This includes programs from its three regions of Northern Europe, Iberia and Central and Eastern Europe. The streamer, who serves a total of 21 markets, described it as “an amazing feat for a service less than a year old and an almost unheard of achievement”
Among other things, SkyShowtime will debut later this year Codename: Annika, its first original work from Northern Europe. Finnish-Swedish production, formerly working under ID, part of the streamer deal) earlier this year and Warner Bros. Discovery have acquired 21 the exclusive rights to the European original on HBO Max. CODE NAME: Annika is a crime drama series that revolves around Emma, a Finnish art fraud investigator who goes undercover at a Stockholm auction house in order to investigate. The company’s relationship with the notorious money launderer “Blanko”. The streamer didn’t immediately elaborate on an exact release date.
Other original productions covered by the WBD deal include the Polish drama Warszawianka , which will open to audiences in June 21, and the Czech and Slovak comedy The Winner and the Spanish series Mentiras Pasajeras (Short Lies) launching later this year.
Meanwhile, in Spain, SkyShowtime will premiere the Spanish original Las Invisibles (The Invisible Ladies) . By Lolita Flores, Maria Pujalter, Gila Escarega, Paula Del Rio, Paula Mira, Jair Bailey Starring Cha and Elena Irureta, it revolves around a group of maids who work in a luxury hotel in the Mediterranean. According to the show description, they hope to “restructure their lives to stand alongside the resort’s wealthy tourists.”
Originals already available on SkyShowtime include the Spanish series Bosé and Los Enviados (Envoy) .
Other new series launching on SkyShowtime later this year include Mystery of the Week Poker Face , created by Rian The Peacock hit starring Natasha Lyonne ( Russian Doll , Orange Is The New Black
‘s Johnson*)) Charlie has great discernment, and Django, Western-style collections and partial CEE Classic 10 films from Regional, Scandinavian, Portuguese and Spanish.
Additionally, later this year, SkyShowtime will feature the Showtime comedy The Curse, starring Emma · Starring Stone, Nathan Field and Benny Safdie. The series explores how an alleged curse can disrupt a newlywed’s relationship.
In addition, SkyShowtime said it will exclusively premiere the latest Taylor Sheridan series Special Ops: Lioness , starring Zoe Saldana, Nicole Kidman, Lesla de Oliveira and Morgan Freeman. The series tells the story of the Lioness Engagement Team who help bring down a terrorist organization from within.
“SkyShowtime is committed to Europe and we are proud to present original programming in our market,” said Sarhan. “Launching such a strong and impressive 10 original series in our first year is almost impossible for a new streaming service. Unheard of.”
