European Sky platforms in first coproduction

BSkyB-owned UK channel Sky 1, Germany’s Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia are collaborating to develop a series for the first time.

The 21st Century Fox-backed pay TV trio is working to adapt Italian comic Diabolik from sisters Angela and Luciana Giussani as a 10x60mins TV drama.

The broadcasters are currently seeking a showrunner.

Diabolik comics follow a ruthless master thief anti-hero from the fictional town of Clerville who uses his skills to take on the look and personality of targets and adversaries to get what he wants.

The comics began publishing in 1962 and have spawned around 800 stories so far.

Anne Mensah, head of drama for Sky said the project had the “potential to capture the imagination of our collective audiences. It is great to have found a property that each of the broadcasters is equally as passionate about, we look forward to working together to bring it to the screen”.

Sky Deutschland’s executive VP, programming, Gary Davey added the series should include “all the elements of terrific pay TV”, while Sky Italia’s executive VP, programming, Andrea Scrosati added he was “particularly proud and glad that one of our next series – and the first international coproduction [between the platforms] – will be based on a very popular Italian creation and brand”.