Netflix & Canal+ co-order Safe drama

Streaming service Netflix and French paycaster Canal+ have co-commissioned an eight-part drama, Safe, which was previously set for Sky.

The series comes from writer Harlan Coben, and will star Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Amanda Abbingdon (Sherlock). Danny Brocklehurst (Shameless) is attached as writer.

A similarly-themed series from Red, Coben and Brocklehurst was announced as a original Sky last year, titled The Four, but this is not the same project as the Netflix-Canal+ drama, a spokesperson told TBI.

Set in a picturesque gated community, Safe follows a pediatric surgeon recovering from the death of his wife, whose life is interrupted by a murder and a disappearance that occur the same night his teenage daughter sneaks out to a party.

Netflix has global rights outside of France, with Canal+ cousin Studiocanal taking distribution rights.

Studiocanal-owned UK producer Red Production Company (Happy Valley) is producing, with Hall, Nicola Shindler, Coben, Brocklehurst and Richard Fee executive producing.

Coben and Red co-created a production joint venture, Final Twist Productions, last year. Coben and Red chief Shindler are co-CEOs of that venture and they have worked together on Sky 1 heist drama The Five. However, this is not involved in the project, a spokesperson confirmed.

Shooting began yesterday in Manchester, UK, ahead of a 2018 debut.