(Deon
Meyer – Gallo Images)
MultiChoice’s M-Net partners with Cinemax
and ZDF for the biggest original drama co-production in African television
history – the six-part adaptation of Deon Meyer’s Trackers.
The television adaptation of
internationally acclaimed author Deon Meyer’s crime novel Trackers marks the beginning of a new era in high-end African
storytelling. Pan-African television network M-Net and two global broadcasting
giants are joining forces to take this uniquely South African political
thriller to the world. First, as announced in December 2018, M-Net sealed a
groundbreaking collaboration deal with Germany’s public broadcaster ZDF. Now,
M-Net can confirm that Trackers is
also being co-produced by Cinemax, which will also distribute the drama series
worldwide beyond M-Net and ZDF's geographical broadcasting footprint.
"The trailblazing and massively
exciting co-production of Trackers
illustrates M–Net’s vision and commitment to shine the spotlight on the African
film and television industry and provide fresh, proudly African narratives to
our viewers as well as global audiences,” says MultiChoice CEO of General
Entertainment, Yolisa Phahle. “It is also taking our longstanding relationship
with Cinemax to the next level, allowing local and international talent to
combine their world-class story-telling and production skills."
While M-Net is already the home of Cinemax
and its sister network HBO, allowing viewers to enjoy showstoppers like Game of Thrones, Big Little Lies, Westworld
and many more, HBO, Cinemax and M-Net also launched an innovative Producers
Apprenticeship programme last year when the Cinemax series Warrior, coming to M-Net in July, was filmed in South Africa. Some
other Cinemax originals screened on M-Net include Banshee, The Knick and Strike
Back.
“Cinemax is delighted to partner with M-Net
and ZDF in bringing Deon Meyer's unforgettable characters and storytelling—all
so richly rooted in the people and spectacular geography of South Africa—to
screens around the world,” says Len Amato, President, HBO Films, Miniseries,
and Cinemax.
Filming for Trackers has already started in exotic locations spanning the
length and breadth of South Africa and the co-production partners have been
working together on all aspects of production – from developing and casting, to
assembling the crew and approving the final content.
Master wordsmith Deon Meyer, whose
multiple-award-winning crime novels have been translated into more than 20
languages, with millions of copies sold worldwide, serves as a supervising
screenwriter and co-producer; British writer Robert Thorogood (Death in Paradise) is the showrunner.
The team of South African writers on the project includes the accomplished
Mitchell’s Plain playwright, screenwriter and director Amy Jephta (Die Ellen Pakkies Story) as well as
local writer/directors Kelsey Egen and Jozua Malherbe.
“Trackers
is an unprecedented scripted television venture and MultiChoice and M-Net are
proud to chart out new territory with all the game-changing players involved in
this co-production,” Phahle concludes.
A talented local and international cast is
on the bill for the six-part miniseries, some of which include Ed Stoppard,
Rolanda Marais, James Alexander and Thapelo Mokoena.
Trackers will make its debut on M-Net 101 in October 2019 and will also be
available on MultiChoice’s popular on-demand service, Showmax. The six-part
drama series is produced by UK production company Three River Studios as well
as South Africa’s Scene 23.