Astro to adapt internationally acclaimed series for Malaysian audiences

Astro, Malaysia’s leading content and entertainment company, has acquired the rights to adapt BAFTA Awards and British Screenwriters’ Awards nominee Liar, a thriller series created by BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated screenwriters Harry and Jack Williams, through the partnership of its film production arm, Astro Shaw, with renowned independent television, film and digital production and distribution company All3Media International. Additionally, Astro is set to acquire the rights to adapt Call My Agent!' (Dix Pour Cent), which won Best Television Drama Series for two years in a row at the Globes de Cristal Awards, France (2018 & 2019).

Double Vision, the production company behind The Bridge, which was nominated at the ContentAsia Awards for Best TV Format Adaptation (Scripted) in Asia, played a key role in securing the rights to adapt Liar and will be helming the production of the series.

Produced by Two Brothers Pictures for ITV and Sundance TV in 2017, Liar is a thriller series which explores themes of sexual assault, consent, modern-day gender politics, family life as well as deceit. The bold series garnered a peak audience of 7 million, making it the biggest audience ITV has seen for a brand-new drama since 2014. Known for its outrageous twists and characterisations that keep audiences at the edge of their seats, Liar tells the story of two people whose initial attraction leads to far-reaching consequences when lies, deception and manipulation blur the truth.

Call My Agent!, on the other hand, is a chaotic comedy-drama which revolves around a talent agency in Paris called A.S.K. This series has been adapted in India (Call My Agent: Bollywood), Canada (Call My Agent!) as well as Turkey (Menajerimi Ara) and will soon be adapted in South Korea, Indonesia, the Middle East, Philippines and Poland. The show follows the stories of three agents, Mathia, Gabriel and Andréa, who jump through all sorts of hoops to keep their crazy celebrity clients happy and their business afloat, all while juggling their messy personal lives.

Vice President, Malay Nusantara Business & Head of Astro Shaw, Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said, “We are thrilled to be commissioning local adaptations of some of the best internationally acclaimed series, bringing international storytelling with local nuances and themes to our audiences. We believe that this strategic partnership with All3Media International will not only broaden the diversity of storytelling in the local creative industry, but also strengthen Astro as a platform that develops and curates world-class local productions through our drama offerings as we continue our efforts to innovate and elevate our content to be consistent and on par with international standards. We would also like to thank Double Vision for making this collaboration possible, and we are very excited to be working with one of the top Malaysian production companies to produce the Malaysian adaptation of Liar.”

Vice President, APAC of All3Media International, Kit Yow added, “We are delighted to be partnering with Astro and Double Vision on this new adaptation of our global hit Liar. The gripping ‘he said-she said’ has proven its credentials to thrill audiences, and we know that this smart, riveting Astro and Double Vision production, with its fabulous cast and stylish direction, will thrill Malaysian audiences.”

The Malaysian adaptations of Liar and Call My Agent! are expected to air towards the end of the year. Both adaptations will premiere on Astro linear channels, On Demand and Astro GO.