Sweden’s SVT, Finland’s Yle, and Denmark’s DR networks secured the rights to the television adaptation of William Boyd’s international bestselling spy novel. “Restless” stars Hayley Atwell (“Captain America”), Rufus Sewell (“Pillars of the Earth”), Michelle Dockery (“Downton Abbey”), Charlotte Rampling (“Melancholia”) and Michael Gambon (“Harry Potter).
Set against the background of the British Secret Service operations in the USA during World War II, “Restless” tells the gripping story of Eva Delectorskaya, a young Russian recruited as a spy to infiltrate the corridors of power and swinging public opinion toward the US joining the allied war effort.
“With an all-star cast and a great 1940’s look, William Boyd’s ‘Restless’ will bring spy games and WWII suspense to SVT this summer in a highly anticipated prime time drama event” says Henrik Palm Acquisitions Executive Drama & Entertainment at SVT.
Tarmo Kivikallio, Head of International Program Acquisitions at Yle adds: “We are very happy about this agreement. This high-quality thriller, with a wonderful casting is definitely something that will appeal to the Finnish audience.”
Kaare Schmidt, DR Media’s Acquisitions Executive Series says „Great cast, thrilling story, captivating television!”
Tim Gerhartz, Acquisitions and Sales Manager Scandinavia at Red Arrow International is convinced: “Talent, suspense, original English language and a high-value literary reference – ‘Restless’ is a gripping thriller and I am convinced the Scandinavian viewers will love it.”
Written by William Boyd and directed by Edward Hall (“MI5”), “Restless” is produced by Emmy Award winner, Hilary Bevan Jones (“State Of Play”, “Girl In The Café”) of Endor Productions. Executive Producers are William Boyd, Matthew Read for BBC and Christian Vesper for Sundance Channel. Premiering in the UK at the end of last year, the miniseries has already attracted millions of viewers: Both episodes outperformed BBC ONE’s average audience share by up to 114%.
About “Restless”
What becomes of your life when everything you thought was solid and certain about it turns out to be a fantastically complicated lie?
This happens to Ruth Gilmartin (Michelle Dockery) when, one day in 1976, her mother Sally (Charlotte Rampling) suddenly tells her she has been living a double life. She is not respectable Sally Gilmartin but in fact Eva Delectorskaya, a spy for the British Secret Service who has been on the run for thirty years.
Eva’s story begins in Paris in 1939. Eva (Hayley Attwell), a beautiful Russian émigré, is recruited for the British Secret Service by Lucas Romer (Rufus Sewell), a mysteriously alluring Englishman. As Romer trains Eva to become the perfect spy their love affair begins. When a crucial mission collapses in the USA and Eva finds herself in terrible, fatal jeopardy she knows she has no option but to run and hide – forever.
“Restless” was produced by Endor Productions and filmed in South Africa and the UK.