EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Global just added another buzzy crime drama to its LA Screenings slate.
Paramount Global Content Distribution has picked up rights to Peacock‘s Miami narcotics-dealer family drama M.I.A., which is from Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque and MRC and stars Shannon Gisela. Buyers will be introduced to the series over coming days.
Hundreds of acquisitions execs are expected on the Paramount lot, where other shows such as Boston Blue and Sheriff County are also among the wares on offer following last week’s Upfront pick-ups.
As for M.I.A., it’s going international after Peacock gave it straight-to-series order last year. Synopsis reads: “Running drugs is a family affair for Etta Tiger Jonze (Shannon), but when the family business is threatened, Etta is thrust into a life she never expected, forcing her to use her wits to survive as she navigates Miami’s criminal underground.”
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M.I.A.‘s cast also includes Dylan Jackson, Brittany Adebumola, Cary Elwes, Alberto Guerra, Gerardo Celasco, Maurice Compte, Marta Milans and Danay Garcia.
Dubuque, who co-created Netflix’s MRC-produced drama Ozark with Mark Williams, is the creator and exec producer, with Karen Campbell serving as showrunner and executive producer. Alethea Jones will direct the first two episodes and also serve as an executive producer.
Given Ozark‘s themes around a family unit involved in drug dealing, M.I.A. sees Dubuque treading familiar ground. Last year, Williams’ latest project, the drug smuggling-themed European drama Safe Harbor, launched at MIPCOM and was also screen at the London TV Screenings via Eccho Rights.
Paramount and MRC have previously teamed on the international distribution of shows such as The Great and Poker Face.
Read our full LA Screenings preview piece here.