News round-up: Disney+ Hotstar extends ‘Doctor Foster’ remake; NPACT launches Covid-19 hotline; HBO Europe orders CEE duo

Out Of Love

Disney+ Hotstar returns to ‘Doctor Foster’ adaptation

Disney+ Hotstar in India has extended its local remake of UK drama Doctor Foster into a second season.

Known locally as Out Of Love, the emotional and psychological drama format from BBC Studios will again star Rasika Dugal and Purab Kohli. It is set in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.

The show, whose first season debuted on Disney+ Hotstar in November, was originally produced by UK-based Drama Republic and written by Mike Bartlett. The format has since been licensed to Russia, France and South Korea.

Out Of Love is one of a number of BBCS scripted formats to have been reproduced in India, with Hotstar behind adaptations of BBC formats including Criminal Justice and The Office.

Sameer Gogate, BBCS’s business head of production for India, said: “The first season of Out Of Love demonstrated the universality of the themes in Doctor Foster, such as complex relationships, insecurity, and betrayal – whilst taking on a fully Indian way of storytelling.”

NPACT launches Covid-19 hotline

NPACT, the US-based trade association for non-fiction producers, has established a Covid-19 hotline to report pandemic-related safety issues.

The online service will offer an anonymous place for those working in nonfiction production to report any Covid-related health and/or safety issues or concerns pertaining to their work experiences, as production resumes amidst the pandemic.

Once a message is received, NPACT will share the anonymously reported information with the relevant production company. The trade body will also share its own best practices guidelines, as well as relevant state guidelines, government resources and response information from relevant agencies.

NPACT interim general manager Michelle Van Kempen said: “We know how seriously producers and their network and streaming partners are taking health and safety protocols, which is allowing production to resume and people to get back to work.

“As the leader in promoting best practices in nonfiction, NPACT believes it’s also essential for workers to have a safe place to anonymously report any health and safety concerns they may have.”

The NPACT-sponsored hotline can be accessed online at https://www.npact.org/hotline.html and is available to anyone working in nonfiction production – at any level or position and regardless of whether the production company they are working for is a member of NPACT.

Beforeigners

HBO Europe orders CEE dramas, extends ‘Beforeigners’

HBO Europe has started production on Romanian drama Ruxx and Polish series Still Here, while also confirming that a second season of Norwegian show Beforeigners has been greenlit.

Ruxx (8 x 45-minutes) has been written by Vera Ion and directed by Iulia Rugină (Breaking News) and Octav Gheorghe, with Raluca Aprodu (Selfie 69) and Alec Secăreanu (Strike Back) starring. Mobra Films is providing production services.

The relationship drama examines a young Romanian as she attempts to balance her demanding career as a property developer while supporting her family.

Ioanina Pavel, producer for HBO Europe, said: “This show is every bit as punchy, fun and visionary as the shows I’ve loved watching on HBO. I can’t wait to get to share it with our viewers, who I’m sure will fall head over heels in love with Vera Ion’s unique voice and characters, and the vibrant but challenging Bucharest they call home.”

Still Here (aka Warszawianka) is a 12 x 40-minute drama written by Jakub Żulczyk (Blinded By The Lights). The series is directed by Jacek Borcuch (Dolce Fine Giornata) and stars Borys Szyc (Snow White And Russian Red) in the leading role.

The story follows the tragicomic adventures of a 40-year-old urban legend in Warsaw, who is an irresponsible party animal but also tormented and self-loathing.

“Still Here is a story about love, friendship, debts and hangovers. An urban ballad of laughter through tears, sunrises and sunsets, very bad decisions and the ability to constantly fall on one’s feet.” said Żulczyk.

Beforeigners, meanwhile, will start production on its six-part second season next month.

Antony Root, EVP of original programming & production at HBO Europe, said: “In what has been a challenging year for television drama, we are incredibly excited to have begun shooting on Ruxx and Still Here. These commissions underline our intention to offer a wide range of premium originals to our subscribers in Central Europe.”

Israel’s ‘Life Isn’t Everything’ gets Greek reboot

Open TV in Greece has ordered a local version of Life Isn’t Everything from ITV Studios-owned Armoza Formats.

The 150 x 30-minute format was created by Israel’s JCS Productions and is a romantic and lightly cynical sitcom that centers on a comedy writer struggling to work out what he wants from life.