Netflix buys first Welsh-language-only drama
Netflix has bought its first Welsh-language-only drama, Dal y Mellt (Rough Cut), a 6 x 60 series from Vox Pictures that is adapted from the novel by Iwan Roberts.
The novel was the first from Roberts, known as ‘Iwcs’; he also wrote the script and co-produced the drama with Ll?r Morus. Huw Chiswell was the director.
Dal y Mellt aired on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer last October to critical acclaim and was a ratings hit. It follows the story of the main character Carbo as he is drawn into a world of wrongdoing, lies and secrets. The series starts out on the dark back streets of Cardiff then moves back and forth between Cardiff, Soho, Porthmadog and Holyhead.
Gwïon Morris Jones plays Carbo, with Mark Lewis Jones (Keeping Faith, Chernobyl, Gangs of London), Graham Land and Siw Hughes among the cast.
Abacus Media Rights did the deal with the drama due to stream on Netflix from April.
S4C’s CEO, Sian Doyle, said: “This is fantastic news for Welsh language drama. The popularity of international dramas on Netflix globally, proves there is an appetite for exciting quality drama regardless of language. Dal y Mellt (Rough Cut) is testament to the calibre of talent producing drama out of Wales”.
“To sell a Welsh language only series to a major Global streamer like Netflix sets out our ambition to take Welsh talent and language to the world and creates further exciting opportunities for S4C.”
“Our Welsh language dramas stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the world, S4C has a long history of selling co-produced dramas - Y Gwyll (Hinterland), Un Bore Mercher (Keeping Faith), Y Golau (Light in the Hall) all bilingual (English/Welsh) back to back productions selling to broadcasters and streamers internationally”.
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