You probably already know the plot to this Israeli thriller. CBS picked up the adaptation rights to Hostages early on and the American version of the story, in which a family of a surgeon is taken hostage to coerce her into killing the head of state on the operating table, hit screens before the original aired in Israel. Whether you're a fan of the U.S. remake or not, the original Hostages is worth a look.
Channel10The Israeli original version of drama Hostages has been acquired as a ready-made format in various Central and Eastern European countries.
Ukrainian commercial broadcaster 1+1 has acquired the drama. It will start airing in the fall. Meanwhile, Endemol has struck a format deal for the show for Russia.
Financial details weren’t disclosed.
The show also became available in the region in June on subscription VOD platform Pickbox for 12 territories, including Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Montenegro.
The hou-long Hostages (Bnei Aruba) follows a surgeon, played by Ayelet Zurer (Man of Steel, Angels & Demons), who is thrown into a political conspiracy when she is ordered to sabotage a routine operation on the president under the threat that her family will die.
In Israel, the 10-part Hostages first aired on Channel 10 in 2013. It was created by Rotem Shamir and Omri Givon and produced by Chaim Sharir.
CBS aired season one of the U.S. version of the show, from Jerry Bruckheimer, this past season with Toni Collette, Dylan McDermott and Tate Donovan.
Andrey Koval, programming director of 1+1, said: “Hostages really caught our interest when we saw it, due to the originality of the storyline and episodes that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. We are excited to be one of the first channels to be bringing non-Russian and non-Western content to our viewers and to be providing them with new and exciting dramas.”
Said Avi Armoza, CEO of Armoza Formats: “We’re thrilled to be breaking into new territories with Hostages — it is an intense and gripping drama with a universally relatable story, making it the perfect drama for both local adaptation and finished product acquisition.”
Email: Georg.Szalai@THR.com
Twitter: @georgszalai
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