Sky Vision to show Fortitude

Sky Vision is set to land international rights to upcoming big-budget drama Fortitude, TBI understands.

The scripted series will bow on Sky Atlantic, the BSkyB entertainment pay TV channel, and on premium cable network Starz in the US.

Starz has TV, digital and home entertainment rights across North America to the show, which is being produced by US indie Fifty Fathoms and Tiger Aspect, which is part of Endemol. However, there was a question mark over who would take international rights, as Endemol, Starz and Sky all have distribution divisions.

Starz and Endemol have now both confirmed they will not take international rights. Sky Vision initially confirmed that it would launch the show globally, though it subsequently issued a statement saying it could not confirm that was the case.

Taking International rights would be a coup for Sky Vision. Parthenon, which Sky bought last year and rebranded as Sky Vision, specialised in factual programming and also had some kids titles. The new-look company has targeted moving more heavily into drama distribution as parent group Sky ramps up original commissions in the scripted space.

Fortitude is set in a safe and close-knit Arctic community that is ripped apart by a gruesome murder of a British researcher. It is written by Simon Donald (Low Winter Sun). Currently in pre-production, casting is underway and shooting will begin in the UK and Iceland in January.

Sky Vision’s scripted offering to date comprises two-part smuggling drama Moonfleet, produced by Company Pictures for Sky1, and half-hour comedy series Doll & Em, which it launched at MIPCOM earlier this month.

Originally commissioned for Sky Living in the UK, Sky Vision has already shopped Doll & Em it to HBO. The US premium cabler has The Newsroom, which like Doll & Em, stars Emily Mortimer.