FX orders US version of The Bridge

FX has commissioned a US version of Scandi drama series The Bridge.

The production arm of the US cable channel will coproduce the series with the US division of Shine.

FX boss John Landgraf announced the news at FX’s presentation at the Television Critic’s Association (TCA) summer press tour. He also said that FX’s Russell Brand series Brand X and another comedy show Louie have got new season orders and also suggested Wilfred will get a third season once some ‘deal issues’ have been worked through.

However, the big news was the new version of The Bridge. The original version of the cop dramam aired on Danish and Swedish public broadcasters DR and SVT’s channels and was sold to the BBC in the UK.

The US version is from the Meredith Stiehm (Homeland) and Elwood Reid (Hawaii Five-O) and will centre on two detectives, from the US and Mexico respectively, hunting a serial killer operating on both sides of the border. Production of the pilot will start later this year.

“We really loved the Scandinavian drama and Meredith’s and Elwood’s script adaption is very compelling and true to its progenitor,” said Landgraf. “We believe setting this series in the US and Mexican border cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez will make the American adaptation both riveting and relevant.”