Sky Atlantic’s most successful original commission and Sky Vision’s biggest selling show set to return in 2016
Sky today reinforces its commitment to invest in high quality, original content with the re-commission of Fortitude. Described by The Guardian as “part Coen brothers, part Beckett” and by Radio Times as “an Arctic chiller which is as addictive as it is original and unsettling”, Fortitude launched in January 2015 and was the first Sky original programme to premiere simultaneously across all Sky markets: Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland.
In the UK the first episode was watched by a cumulative audience of 2.66m and the series so far averages 1.69m, making Fortitude Sky Atlantic’s most successful original commission. Fortitude is the most successful original drama series launch to date in Sky homes, and attracted new viewers to the channel, with over 50% of the audience coming to Sky Atlantic for the first time to watch Fortitude.
Fortitude is also Sky Vision’s most successful show to date, selling to over 100 broadcasters around the world, including ABC Australia, Superchannel Canada, OTE Greece and Canal+ France. Sky Vision will again handle international distribution for the series.
The creative team behind Fortitude will return with Simon Donald writing a brand new 10 part story set again in the unsettling Arctic town. Fifty Fathom’s Patrick Spence and Frith Tiplady will return as Executive Producers. Cast will be announced at a later date.
Zai Bennett, Channel Director, Sky Atlantic, said: “Simon Donald created a unique and unsettling story which, week after week, has captivated our customers. I am absolutely delighted that we will be bringing Fortitude back next year with a story that promises to engage, challenge and enthral us all over again. “
Simon Donald, creator and lead writer adds “It’s a privilege to return to Fortitude. It’s a place where the real and the feared live side by side, where old dark secrets thaw out into the chill light of the arctic day. I’d never been anywhere like Fortitude before and I can’t wait to go back”.
Fortitude launched in the US through Participant Media’s television network, Pivot who are confirmed to return to co-produce the second series.
“From the first episode, audiences responded to the incredibly rich world Simon Donald created, where nature and civilization collide with catastrophic results. We’re excited that ‘Fortitude’ will be back for another season of suspense and chaos,” said Kent Rees, General Manager, Pivot.
Fifty Fathoms and Tiger Aspect will produce the 10×60′ drama with Sky Atlantic. Executive Producers for Fifty Fathoms/Tiger Aspect are Patrick Spence (Marvellous, Five Minutes of Heaven), Simon Donald (Low Winter Sun) and Frith Tiplady (Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders). For Sky Atlantic, executive producers are Anne Mensah and Lizzie Gray.
Fortitude series 2 is the latest addition to Sky’s ambitious slate of original drama which includes: Sky 1’s Raymond Briggs’ much-loved classic Fungus the Bogeyman; and epic global drama Apocalypse Slough, starring Mathew Baynton; Sky Atlantic’s The Last Panthers, the crime drama written by Jack Thorne and starring Samantha Morton, Tahar Rahim and John Hurt; Sky Living’s The Five, created by number one international best-selling author Harlan Coben,; Enfield Haunting starring Timothy Spall, Matthew MacFadyen and Juliet Stevenson and Sky Arts’ Birthday, written by Joe Penhall.
Sky
Darren says
This is one good show not to be missed I say no more