EXCLUSIVE: Anne Watanabe (Cube, Stay Mum) and Jasper Pääkkönen (BlacKkKlansman, Vikings) are set to headline a new global drama series. They have been cast in Blood & Sweat, a project that involves collaboration across three continents.
Japanese broadcaster and digital platform, Wowow, and Finland’s Nelonen are the co-commissioners of the series. The production sees partnerships with Japan’s AX-ON, a branch of Nippon TV, and Finland’s ICS Nordic, both serving as co-producers. Additionally, Canada’s Boat Rocker has joined to handle worldwide distribution rights and contribute to the production.
The series, which consists of eight episodes and was hinted at earlier by Wowow, stars Watanabe and Pääkkönen as detectives from distinct cultural backgrounds. They unite over a common pursuit of justice, propelling them into a cooperative probe of a complex serial murder case that spans from Finland to Japan.
Currently, filming is taking place in both Finland and Japan. The executive production team includes Boat Rocker’s Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier, Nick Nantell, and Jon Rutherford, along with Wowow’s Takashima, Daniel Toivonen of AX-ON—who is also directing—and ICS’s Ilkka Rahkonen and Ilkka Hynninen. Production responsibilities are being managed by Wowow’s Keita Tsutsumiguchi, AX-ON’s Risa Tanoue, and ICS’s Erna Aalto and Jarkko Hentula. The scriptwriting team comprises Riku Suokas, Daniel Toivonen, Marie Iwasaki, and Heikki Syrjä.
Watanabe, the Japanese lead, has been featured in notable works such as Yasuhiko Shimizu’s Cube, Hiroshi Nishitani’s Midsummer’s Equation, Wowow’s TV miniseries xxxHOLiC, and the upcoming 2024 movie Stay Mum by Kôsai Sekine. She is represented by Top Coat.
Pääkkönen, from Finland, is widely recognized for his roles as Felix in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and Halfdan the Black in the TV series Vikings. His other credits include the TV movie The Dark Tower, the Finnish thriller Omerta 6/12, and Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods. He is managed by Subtitle Talent and Range Media Partners.
Tomomi Takashima from Wowow expressed excitement about the project, noting, “Despite the geographical distance between Japan and Finland, this collaboration has unveiled a surprising cultural synergy. With a compelling original narrative and stellar cast from both nations, this partnership is unique and thrilling. We are excited to work with Boat Rocker to share this distinctive series with a global audience.”
Wowow has a history of engaging in international co-productions like HBO Max’s Tokyo Vice, a noir-style drama that spanned two seasons and included international partners.
Ilkka Hynninen, Creative Director at ICS Nordic, described Blood & Sweat as “an excellent example of how Finnish and Japanese intellectual property can be successfully exported to the global stage. This project merges Finnish and Japanese elements to craft a unique and captivating narrative that appeals to a worldwide audience and stimulates the imaginations of viewers everywhere.”
Hynninen, along with Ilkka Rahkonen, has been dedicated to producing globally appealing content since founding ICS Nordic in 2022. They recently completed an international version of the comedy feature ISMO – Breaking Bad English.
Director and writer Toivonen excitedly advised audiences to “brace for a viewing experience unlike any other as we blend the Nordic Noir genre with Japanese aesthetics and characters.”
Nantell, Executive Vice President, Head of Scripted Creative at Boat Rocker Studios, emphasized, “With its deep mystery, intrigue, and action, Blood & Sweat is poised to captivate international audiences through bold storytelling from our creative teams.” Jon Rutherford, President of Global Rights, Franchise and Content Strategy at Boat Rocker, added, “This project further demonstrates our commitment to invest strategically in high-quality scripted co-productions.”
Boat Rocker, known for its international scripted series like the Irish comedy-horror Video Nasty and the Australian drama Mix Tape, is currently involved in a reverse takeover by Blue Ant Media. Following the acquisition, Boat Rocker executives Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier, and John Young will establish a new entity, IDJCo, to purchase Boat Rocker Studios and their brand and franchise management operations. Post-transaction, their new venture will adopt the Boat Rocker name once again, as Blue Ant forms a business listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the name Blue Ant Media Corporation.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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