BBC Worldwide France busy with sales

PetkovicPARIS -- BBC Worldwide France, the Paris-based sales and distribution branch from the British pubcaster, has inked a flurry of deals across its slate. French pay TV giant Canal Plus has acquired the very first two seasons of dark-edged drama "Luther" and serial "Mad Dogs." A mental thriller, "Luther" stars Idris Elba like a cop who looks into crime while fighting their own devils. The show continues to be reupped for any third season by BBC1 and airs on BBC America. "With 'Luther,' BBC is trembling in the codes of British crime drama since it centers on one character who's highly charming, heroic but additionally very ambivalent," stated Sandra Petkovic, mind of distribution and purchasers at BBC Worldwide France. "It isn't an average cop show." "Mad Dogs," which bowed in Feb on paybox Sky One, is really a four-part, black comedy-thriller activating five old buddies who reunite for any vacation in The country that becomes a nightmare. Gallic pay TV giant Canal Plus also pre-bought the 2nd number of "Mad Dogs," set to become shipped at the begining of 2012, based on Petkovic. BBC Worldwide France offered the 2nd number of "Wallander," which toplines Kenneth Branagh like a Swedish detective, to Arte using the Franco-German internet in foretells pre-purchase the third series. Arte lately acquired BBC's serial "Occupation," the 3-parter set from the backdrop from the Iraq war. Composed by Peter Bowker, the small-series focuses on three British soldiers who struggle to adjust to existence in your own home after taking part within the invasion of Basra in 2003 and therefore are attracted to Iraq for various reasons. Arte will broadcast "Occupation" on Friday. Meanwhile, pubcaster channels France 4 and France 2 have grabbed in the second season of "Sherlock" following the first season came solid rankings. A modern day undertake Conan Doyle's figures, the BBC crime series follows the adventures of detective A Virtual Detective and Dr. Watson in modern-day London. France 2 also acquired John Downer's wildlife special "Lions: Spy within the Living room." Read by David Attenborough, the docu follows cubs becoming an adult into adult lions. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com