EXCLUSIVE: Disney+ is among a raft of buyers for RTÉ and BBC comedy-drama The Walsh Sisters. Based on a book series from bestselling author Marian Keyes, Season 1 was Irish broadcaster RTÉ’s highest-rated drama of the past two years. The BBC and RTÉ have greenlit a Season 2 of the show, which is in production.
Disney+ has now snagged second window rights for the UK, meaning The Walsh Sisters will launch on the streamer after it has played on the BBC. The show is distributed by Cineflix Rights, which did the deal. It has also sold the show to TV2 in Norway, TV4 in Sweden and MTV Oy in Finland. Pickbox has snagged the show for the Balkans. Yes has taken it for Israel.
Stan was already on board for Australia and Roku’s Howdy streamer has just acquired it for the U.S.
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The Walsh Sisters is the story of the dysfunctional but lovable Walsh family of five sisters, their mother, and bemused father. Set and filmed in their Dublin hometown, it follows the sisters as they navigate life’s messiness, including secrets, family feuds, and moments of grace.
In Season 2, Caroline Menton (Oddity), Danielle Galligan (House of Guinness), Máiréad Tyers (Extraordinary), Stefanie Preissner (How to Adult) and Louisa Harland (Derry Girls) reprise their roles as the five sisters. As well as starring, Preissner adapts the Keyes’ books for TV. Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall) and Carrie Crowley (Hope Street) also return as the sisters’ parents.
“The comedy, drama and emotion woven through the lives of the closely-knit Walsh family and their loved ones has really been taken to heart by audiences,” said Sandra Piha, SVP, Sales, Pan-Regional, UK, Eire, and Nordics, Cineflix Rights, who brokered the Disney+ and Nordic deals. “We’re thrilled to be bringing the series to more viewers around the world through these latest deals, and we can’t wait to see where their stories go next in Season 2.”
The deals with TVNZ and BBC (Netherlands) were closed by Chris Bluett, SVP, Sales, Asia Pacific and Benelux; the Pickbox and Yes deals were closed by Lucy Rawson, VP, Sales, German-speaking Europe, CEEMEA, and Southern Mediterranean.
The series is produced by Cuba Pictures, part of Vice Studios, and Metropolitan Pictures for RTÉ, in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland, and Cineflix Rights.
