BBC Buys Irish Crime Drama ‘Kin’

The BBC has picked up Irish crime drama Kin from Fifth Season.

The RTÉ series, which aired in the U.S. on AMC+, is the latest high-profile show snapped up by the BBC buying team, following the likes of AMC’s Interview with the Vampire. It is produced by Joker financier Bron Studios and Man in the High Castle outfit Headline Pictures.

Kin stars Clare Dunne (Herself), Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones) and Ciarán Hinds (Game of Thrones). It follows gang wars in Dublin. A boy is killed and his family embarks on a gangland war with an international cartel: a war that is impossible to win. The Kinsellas are a local crime family, while the Cunningham cartel is a vast global organization.

 “Anchored by a tremendous cast, Kin is a powerful and intense story of love, grief, family and crime, and its devastating ramifications,” said Sue Deeks, the BBC’s Head of Programme Acquisition.

According to Fifth Season, the second season’s finale was the most-watched Irish show of this year so far outside of sport. It has already aired in the UK on AMC streamer Sundance Now.

Kin is written and created by Peter McKenna (The Last Kingdom, Red Rock), who also serves as showrunner/executive producer. Executive Producers on the series are Bron’s David Davoli (The Defeated), Samantha Thomas (Jessica Jones, Daredevil), Steven Thibault (Pieces of a Woman, Capone) and Aaron L. Gilbert (Bombshell, Joker, Fences); Headline Pictures’ Christian Baute (Man in the High Castle, Funny Games), Laurence Lenica and Frank Calderon; and Ciaran Donnelly(Altered Carbon, Vikings), who is also co-creator.

Earlier this year, Bron filed for bankruptcy citing the Covid-19 pandemic and dual U.S. labor strikes.