Disney+ and Dutch public broadcaster NPO have announced their first collaboration, with the Dutch version of reality competition format Wolven: het spel van list en bedrog set to premiere simultaneously across both services later this summer.
The series will launch on 29 August on NPO 1 through broadcaster BNNVARA, while episodes will also be available weekly on NPO Start and Disney+.
The deal represents a notable move for the Dutch public broadcaster and continues Disney+’s growing strategy of partnering with free-to-air broadcasters across Europe to expand the reach of local productions.
The format, based on the French original Loups, combines strategy, deception and social gameplay. It will be hosted by comedian Pieter Derks and presenter Soundos El Ahmadi and produced by Banijay label SimpelZodiak.
Lucien Brouwer, member of NPO’s Executive Board, said the partnership reflected a desire to reach broader audiences.
“With this collaboration, we are taking an important step in how we, as a public broadcaster, aim to work with commercial organisations,” he said. “We strongly believe in working together to reach even more people in the Netherlands with our content.”
Karl Holmes, General Manager of Disney+ EMEA, said the series was well suited to communal viewing.
“Wolven promises to be a great show, with lots of intrigue that keeps you guessing. It’s the kind of show you want to watch together,” he said.
The project forms part of Disney+’s wider European partnership strategy, which has already seen the streamer collaborate with broadcasters including ITV in the UK, RTVE and Atresmedia in Spain, Rai in Italy and German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
The original format was created by Fary and Panayotis Pascot and first commissioned by Canal+ in France, where it has run for three seasons. International distribution is handled by STUDIOCANAL and Dreamspark, while adaptations are being developed across multiple territories through Banijay Entertainment.
The Dutch production will be filmed this summer at the format’s dedicated production hub in France.
