Red Arrow Studios International has secured the global distribution rights to the ambitious new international thriller Blackout – Tomorrow Is Too Late (6 x 45’). The series is produced by multi award-winning production company W&B Television (The Lives of Others, Dark) for Joyn and SAT.1 in Germany, where it is set to premiere in Fall 2021 on Joyn and in Spring 2022 on SAT.1.

Blackout – Tomorrow Is Too Late sees the past catch up with a former hacker when a sudden blackout plunges Europe into darkness. It is based on Marc Elsberg’s bestselling novel of the same name, which has been translated into 15 languages and published in 22 countries, with over 1.7 million copies sold.

Executive Producers are Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann and Kerstin Nommsen for W&B Television and Lena Wickert, Jana Kaun and Stefan Gärtner for Joyn and SAT.1.

The German-language drama is directed by Lancelot von Naso (Waffenstillstand (Ceasefire), Kommissar Marthaler) and Oliver Rihs (Schwarze Schafe (Black Sheep), Bis wir tot sind oder frei (Caged Birds)) and written by von Naso alongside Kai-Uwe Hasenheit (Waffenstillstand (Ceasefire), Kommissar Marthaler). The series stars Moritz Bleibtreu (The Baader Meinhof Complex, Lammbock), Marie Leuenberger (The Divine Order, Bis wir tot sind oder frei (Caged Birds)), Jessica Schwarz (Biohackers, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer), Hannah Hoekstra (Arthur & Claire, You Are Wantedl), Heiner Lauterbach (Tannbach, Eurocops,), Stephan Kampwirth (Dark, Who Am I), Carlos Leal (The Team, Devious Maids), Barry Atsma (Bad Banks, The Split) and Vladimir Korneev (Tatort, Der Club der singenden Metzger (The Master Butcher)).

Tim Gerhartz, SVP Global Sales at Red Arrow Studios International, said: “Blackout – Tomorrow is Too Late is a timely, psychological portrait of a society in a state of emergency, that brings out the best and worst in people. A high concept, big budget series, it powerfully combines the thriller, drama and disaster genres with a positive message of hope and unity. We’re confident this thought-provoking drama will strike a chord with audiences internationally.”

Max Wiedemann, Managing Director and Executive Producer at W&B Television, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us just how fast and how radically our day to day lives can change. A total blackout would have an even more severe impact. Yet the main question remains the same: How would the authorities and society cope with a scenario like this? Blackout – Tomorrow is Too Late is a gripping international thriller, but it is also a show about hope: if people come together and help each other, the worst can be overcome. We are very happy that Marc Elsberg has trusted us with the screen adaption of this bestselling novel and are looking forward to seeing the great work of Lancelot von Naso, Oliver Rihs, Kai-Uwe Hasenheit and an outstanding cast on international TV screens soon.”

About Blackout – Tomorrow is Too Late

On a cold November night, a fatal chain reaction in the European power grid plunges the continent into darkness. While the authorities fight to control the impact of the blackout, one man in Italy, former hacker Pierre Manzano (Moritz Bleibtreu), realizes that a malicious code he wrote nearly 20 years ago during the 2001 G8 riots is to blame.

In Germany, Frauke Michelsen (Marie Leuenberger) suddenly finds herself heading the country’s crisis response team, battling with failed communication systems, the threat of food shortages and the collapse of the health system. But when her eight-year-old twin daughters go missing, she is torn between managing the spiralling incidents and her own personal challenges.

Red Arrow Studios International will launch Blackout – Tomorrow Is Too Late at MIPCOM 2021.