Berlin: RTL Takes Globo’s ‘Merciless’ (Exclusive)

Brazilian TV giant Globo has licensed its series Merciless to European media powerhouse RTL Group’s pay TV channel RTL Crime. 

The thriller will premiere in July in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. The channel is part of the RTL Group, one of the largest media groups in Europe and one of the main television content producers worldwide.

As part of Globo Studios’ new generation of series, Merciless will be shown to the market during a special showcase on Tuesday, which also will feature other productions such as Under Pressure, Jailers, Above Justice and Thirteen Days Away From the Sun, which is still unreleased in the international market, among others.

Written by International Emmy winner Gloria Perez (Edge of Desire, India – A Love Story), Merciless centers on psychopath Edu (Bruno Gagliasso). The good-looking, smart and articulate man behind a string of murders that has baffled police, Edu uses his charm to hide his real and terrifying personality. The series reached a share of 37 percent and more than 22 million viewers per day in Brazil.

“Merciless is a perfectly crafted, emotional, edgy and last but not least, a very scary serial killer series that easily surpasses the international market standard,” said RTL Group head of digital division programs Klaus Holtmann. “We are confident that our subscribers on RTL Crime will very much appreciate our first Brazilian series ever.”

Another of Globo’s series, Vade Retro, will also be featured Tuesday at EFM in Berlin. A mix between comedy and suspense, the production was handpicked to be featured at the Drama Series Days. Director Mauro Mendonca Filho will present Vade Retro, showing the first two episodes.