Sky Studios takes the reins of ‘Das Boot’ from Sonar

Das Boot

Sky Studios is to fund and distribute the next seasons of wartime U-boat drama Das Boot.

The pay-TV operator’s commissioning and production arm will take the reins to the Bavaria Fiction and Sky Deutschland co-production, which is set to return next year for a second season.

New deals for the Sky Deutschland drama – the most successful original for the channel to date – will be handled by NBCUniversal Global Distribution, which has picked up the title from distributor Sonar Entertainment.

TBI has confirmed that Sonar, which also co-produced the first season, is no longer attached to the drama.

Season one of Das Boot, which is set immediately after the events of the 1981 Oscar-nominated film, sold into more than 100 territories, including Hulu (US), Starzplay (France) and SBS (Australia).

Sky Studios’ involvement on Das Boot follows news of the business’s two-year deal with Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television as well as plans to launch a 32-acre film and TV studio at Elstree.

Jane Millichip, chief commercial officer for Sky Studios, said: “Sky Deutschland’s phenomenally successful and creatively ambitious evolution of the Das Boot story has proven to be a critical and commercial hit around the world. This deal is a great example of the agile approach Sky Studios is taking to partnership and collaboration with Europe’s top creatives and we are pleased to be working even more closely with our partners at Bavaria Fiction.”

Moritz Polter, Oliver Vogel and Jan S. Kaiser, exec producers for Bavaria Fiction, added: “Sky Deutschland has been an outstanding partner from day one and we’re now more than thrilled to have Sky Studios on board of Das Boot as well, working together with us on this important franchise. Following the incredible critical and international success of Das Boot season one we know their sales arm, NBCUniversal Global Distribution, will ensure that even wider audiences will be able to engage with a fascinating story that needs to be told on the global stage.”

Marcus Ammon, director of original production for Sky Deutschland, added: “Das Boot has been a critical and ratings success with audiences at home and around the world. Now, with the support of Sky Studios, we are able to further showcase German creativity and storytelling on a global stage.”