Netflix & Belgium’s VRT order ‘Diamonds’ drama from De Mensen, Keshet Int’l

Netflix and Belgian pubcaster VRT have joined forces to commission Diamonds, an eight-part crime drama set in the heart of the world’s largest diamond district.

The show has been co-created by Yuval Yefet (Fauda, Line In The Sand) and Rotem Shamir (Hostages, Line In The Sand) and will be co-produced by Keshet International (KI) and Belgian prodco De Mensen.

The 8 x 50-minute crime drama follows the struggles and strife of one of Antwerp’s most influential diamond-dealing families, The Wagners. When their youngest son commits suicide, his long-estranged brother Noah returns to take charge of the family business, using methods unorthodox methods to save himself and his family.

The multi-language drama will be shot in Dutch, English and Yiddish and is slated to begin filming later this summer for a 2022 premiere on both Netflix and VRT.

De Mensen’s head of scripted Pieter Van Huyck and Ivy Vanhaecke (Undercover, Beau Séjour S2) alongside KI’s VP of global drama Atar Dekel, KI’s Alon Shtruzman and Keshet Media Group’s Avi Nir. Rotem Shamir directs.

Olivier Goris, channel manager of Eén (VRT) says: “I am very proud that our channel Eén can realize this new TV series set in Antwerp together with Netflix. Diamonds is a unique cooperation: the gifted Flemish production company De Mensen working together with the international talent Keshet.

“Combined with the talent on screen, which we’ll be announcing soon, Diamonds will be a TV series you can’t miss. With this new fiction show we can put an international spotlight on our local talent, and bring a thrilling crime drama to everyone in Flanders.”

Janey van Ierland, manager of co-productions & acquisitions at Netflix, added: “We are excited to join forces with the fantastic teams at De Mensen, Keshet International and VRT to bring the exciting story of Diamonds to Netflix members globally.”