Round-up: ‘Sommerdahl Murders’ extended; HGTV explores ‘Cash In The Attic’; Rainmaker & Little Hat develop ‘Bone Season’

The Sommerdahl Murders

Sommerdahl Murders extended

ZDF and NDF in Germany, along with Danish broadcaster TV2, are returning to crime drama The Sommerdahl Murders.

The show’s third season will start production this May and premiere early 2022, with TV4 Sweden, TV2 Norway and NPO Netherlands striking pre-buy deals. The show is from Dynamic Television, which co-produces with ZDF, NDF, Sequoia Global Alliance and TV2.

The Nordic Noir series is set in Helsingør, a picturesque town on the Danish coastline, and follows murder investigations solved by Dan Sommerdahl (Peter Mygind) and his best friend Detective Superintendent Fleming Torp (André Babikian).

The second season became the most watched show in the history of Danish broadcaster TV2 Charlie with more than 700,000 viewers tuning in for the season premiere. The show is based on the novels by Anna Grue, with the TV series created by Lolita Bellstar, who serves as head writer alongside Lars K. Andersen.

HGTV explores ‘Cash In The Attic’

Discovery-owned cablenet HGTV has commissioned a revival of collectibles series Cash In The Attic after an 11-year hiatus.

The six-episode series has been “retooled” to highlight collectible items of interest to today’s audiences and will air later this year.

It is based on the original BBC format, which ran in the UK to nearly 600 episodes, with the US version produced by Argonon-owned Leopard USA. Executive producers are Argonon duo Lindsay Schwartz and James Burstall, with Gabe Cunningham attached as showunner.

It will be hosted by Courtney Tezeno and her team of expert appraisers, including Elyse Luray, Jean David Michel and Marvin Jules, as they sort through homes looking for classic toys, vintage comics, original video games and other valuable pop culture treasures.

Once the items are sold at auction, the homeowners will use the money to fund life-changing dreams, such as a down payment on a new house or a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

“We expect a wide audience to tune in for Cash In The Attic because they appreciate the nostalgic value of sports memorabilia or Beanie Babies and they may find out that they can turn something that’s gathering dust into good money,” said HGTV president Jane Latman.

Rainmaker lands on Bone Season

Distribution firm Rainmaker Content has acquired sales rights to 8 x 60-minute fantasy thriller The Bone Season.

The show is based on the international best-selling book series, which has been written by Samantha Shannon, and is being produced by Harriet Hammond of Little Hat Productions. It will be executive produced by Hammond and Victor Glynn of GCB Films.

The TV adaptation, which is in development, is set in an alternative London in 2059 where clairvoyance has been outlawed and follows heroine Paige Mahoney, who operates as a ‘dreamwalker’.

Talent, cast and crew are set to be announced in the coming weeks. Broadcaster/streamer details have not yet been revealed.

Synchronicity snags Helen FitzGerald’s Bloody Women

Scottish prodco Synchronicity Films has partnered with The Cry’s Helen FitzGerald for a second time, this time optioning rights to her novel Bloody Women.

The novel is being developed as an 8 x 45-minute darkly comedic thriller, with writer and journalist Lorna Martin attached. All3Media International, which has a first-look deal with Synchronicity, holds global rights to the project.

The story revolves around a woman who, hours before she is due to get married, is frogmarched to a police station and shown a severed penis that belonged to her now dead ex-boyfriend.

The show, described as “a bold, original and playful series”, goes on to explore whether or not she’s responsible for mutilating and murdering him.

Rockie Award Gala recipients announced

The Banff World Media Festival has announced this year’s Rockie Award Gala recipients, ahead of the ceremony next month.

Canadian comedian and YouTube personality Jasmeet Raina will host the awards program, which is being streamed live on 15 June, celebrating both the International Program Competition winners and the Rockies Gala honours.

Kenan Thompson is to receive the Sir Peter Ustinov Award for his outstanding comedic contribution to the media industry and is well-known as the longest-running star of NBC’s comedy show Saturday Night Live.

The A+E Inclusion Award will meanwhile go to Orange Is The New Black star Danielle Brooks in recognition of her efforts in championing and reflecting diversity.

Simu Liu, star of the upcoming Marvel superhero movie Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, will receive the Canadian Award Of Distinction, which is presented by the Canada Media Fund and MadeNous to a Canadian whose body of work exemplifies outstanding achievement in the entertainment industry.

Dino Dana and Odd Squad producer Sinking Ship Entertainment is to be given the Innovative Producer Award for entrepreneurial excellence and achievements, while The Hollywood Reporter Impact Award will go to the team from Ava DuVernay’s Array for its significant and impactful contribution to screen-based entertainment.

Others awards to be presented at the ceremony include the Program Of The Year, whose past recipients have included This Is Us and The Handmaid’s Tale and The Grand Jury Prize, which has previously gone to Big Little Lies and Planet Earth II.