Known Associates & RTI ink first-ever SA & Ivory Coast co-pro deal on sci-fi series ‘Ambre’

uBettina Wethu

South Africa’s Known Associates Entertainment is partnering with Ivory Coast pubcaster RTI on sci-fi drama series Ambre, marking the first co-production between the two countries.

Filming will take place in South Africa and Ivory Coast and feature actors from both countries, with a script in English and French.

South African pubcaster SABC has pre-licensed the 6 x 60-minute series, with Ambre expected to debut next year.

The series was created by writer Binta Dembele and producer Lebone Maema, who said that the project is a futuristic action thriller “in the vein” of American Gods and Black Earth Rising, according to Variety.

Known Associates Entertainment is the Johannesburg-based prodco behind uBettina Wethu, the South African version of Ugly Betty and recently finished production on crime drama Atlantis for EVOD, the new streamer owned by South African pay-TV channel e.TV.

“Ambre epitomizes Known Associates’ vision for creating premium African global content. We are thrilled to pioneer co-productions between African countries across languages and cultures for a worldwide audience,” commented the company’s chairman Joel Phiri.