Fremantle, Hulu team to take Baghdad Central to US
Details
Joseph O'Halloran
| 14 October 2019

Global content producer and distributor Fremantle has inked a new deal with US OTT service Hulu to bring six-part drama series Baghdad Central to the US.

Produced by Fremantle’s UK drama label Euston Films and starring Waleed Zuaiter, Corey Stoll, Bertie Carvel, Clara Khoury, Leem Lubany, July Namir, and Neil Maskell, the series is set in October 2003, Baghdad has been occupied by US-led coalition forces for six months; but the disbandment of the Iraqi army, the police and civil leadership in the aftermath of the invasion, means there is no one in charge and no effective rule of law.

In the midst of this chaos, crime and paranoia, Iraqi ex-policeman Muhsin al-Khafaji (Waleed Zuaiter) has lost everything and is battling daily to keep himself and his sick daughter, Mrouj safe. But when he learns that his estranged elder daughter Sawsan is missing, Khafaji turns collaborator to find her.
As Baghdad Central unfolds, Khafaji soon finds himself embarking on a wider quest for justice in a society that’s become truly lawless.

Baghdad Central joins Hulu’s slate of international content debuting in the US including Das Boot, This Way Up and Prisoners of War. the was written and created by BAFTA-nominated writer Stephen Butchard (The Last Kingdom, House of Saddam) based on the novel by Elliott Colla. Baghdad Central will launch on Channel 4 in the UK and stream on Hulu in 2020.

The 6×60’ programme was commissioned for Channel 4 by Beth Willis, head of drama with commissioning editor Manpreet Dosanjh and commissioning executive Jonny Richards. The series is produced by Euston Films. Executive producers are Kate Harwood, Stephen Butchard and Alice Troughton and producer is Jonathan Curling (The Secret). Fremantle will act as the global distributor for the series. Alice Troughton (Doctor Who, Tin Star, A Discovery of Witches) is lead director and BAFTA-nominated Ben A. Williams (Humans, The Pass) directed the second block of filming.

Commenting on the launch, Caroline Kusser, EVP, co-production and distribution, US, International, Fremantle said, “Baghdad Central is a powerful crime story told from a very unique perspective. Taking place in a period of history that we’re all familiar with, the story is told from a unique perspective. Full of twists and turns; things and characters are not always what they seem, and we’re sure that Hulu’s audiences will be gripped by this series as the truth behind the secrets are revealed.”