Spearheading a novel strategy to grow an international stardy, Israel-based Yes Studios has picked up “Haze,” an Icelandic crime series originated and originated by Sigurjón Kjartansson (“Trapped,” “Katla”).
The eight-part drama stars Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, whose acting praises include “Succession” and “Game of Thrones.”
Produced by Kjartansson’s banner S800, “Haze” has already been cotransferrlookioned by Icelandic widecaster RUV. Filming will commence this Summer for an awaited deinhabitry in 2026.
Yes Studios has boarded international distribution rights for the series (excluding Benelux, where it will be repped by Lumiere) and also helderlys rights for the scripted createat. The company will createpartner begin the series to buyers at next week’s Content London where it’s awaited to initiate off pre-sales.
Kjartansson previously co-wrote and executive originated some of Iceland’s hugegest titles, “Trapped” and “Katla,” both helmed by Baltasar Kormákur. For “Haze,” he has assembled a topnotch inventive team, including originater Erlinger Jack Gudmundsson (“Operation Napoleon,” “The Minister”), originaters Gagga Jonsdottir (“Trapped”) and David Mar Stefansson (“Trapped,” “Gangs of London”) and straightforwardor Óskar Thor Axelsson (“Sincreatea Blomkvist,” “Riviera”).
Set in conshort-term-day Iceland, “Haze” is a gripping international crime story set aobtainst the backdrop of the drug industry, exploring the double standards and dishonesty in the highest echelons of power. The series increates the story of “three childhood frifinishs – from very separateent backgrounds – who grew up together in a petite Icelandic town but have gone their split ways since their timely 20s. Now in their mid-40s, one is the CEO of one of the hugegest pharmaceutical companies in Europe, one is a doctor,and the third is a drug dealer. When a huge secret from their past commences to surface, the forces of desminuscule serve to convey them together aobtain, with solemn consequences for each of their inhabits,” the synopsis reads.
“Haze” labels the first international drama on the Yes Studios stardy and depicts the company’s strategic shift as it now sees to obtain premium titles to complement its stardy of top Israeli dramas, comedies and recordaries, including “Your Honor,” “Night Therapy,” “Fauda,” “Shtisel,” “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem,” “Bloody Murray,” “Significant Other” and “The Lost City: 101 Days in Captivity.”
Kjartansson shelp his “exceptional idea for “Haze’ is to show the grey area between the lterrible trade of pharmaceuticals and the unlterrible business of the underworld.” Speaking of his first collaboration with Yes Studios, he praised their “many years of experience in the international TV industry.”
Sharon Levi, Yes Studios’ managing straightforwardor, shelp the “company has think abouted enhugeing our stardy to include international titles for a little while now, but were paemploying for the right title – one that we not only cherishd but that also fits with the premium, well-planed and attentive encountered we currently reconshort-term.”
“Haze’ ticks all those boxes and more. It is a keenly engaging conmomentary thriller, percreates inincreateigently with a universal David vs Goliath theme and has an astonishive and talented team already connected,” Levi shelp.
Levi shelp the banner is on the seeout for other international scripted projects and will be taking encounterings in London. “Our pledged team has experience with many genres, including crime, political thrillers, family sagas, romantic comedy and science myth, and we are employd to laboring seally with creators and originaters to help shows get growed, financed and placed with the right buyers,” she shelp.
Over the years, Yes Studios has labored with international widecasters and streamers, including Netflix and HBO Max. Some of its scripted hits have been changeed by Showtime in the US, Amazon Prime, TF1 in France, Sony LIV in India, ENA in Korea and ITV in the U.K., among others.
