MultiChoice and global producer-distributor Fremantle have greenlit the South African crime drama series ‘Reyka’ for a second season.
South Africa’s Kim Engelbrecht and Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”) will reprise their roles in the series from writer and creator Rohan Dickson, with production set to kick off in January 2023. Season 2 will premiere on M-Net in late 2023.
The drama series follows the crime profiler Reyka Gama who hunts an elusive serial killer in the sugarcane fields of KwaZulu-Natal while haunted by her past. Her childhood experience of being abducted by a farmer has left her traumatized but also helps her enter the minds of Africa’s most notorious criminals.
According to the producers, the second season centres around a series of violent attacks in the port city of Durban and will see Reyka work with a new team to find mysterious connections between the Lover’s Lane Killer, teenage sex workers and the deadly assault of a cobbler.
“Reyka” is jointly produced by Serena Cullen for the U.K.’s Serena Cullen Productions (“Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” “The Larkins”) and Harriet Gavshon for Emmy-nominated Quizzical Pictures in South Africa.
The executive producers of the series include Serena Cullen, Harriet Gavshon and Rohan Dickson. Nomsa Philiso, Jan du Plessis executive produce for M-Net, and Julie Hodge for Fremantle.
Speaking about the film, Harriet Gavshon said, “Season 2 promises to be even more compelling than Season 1. It’s a challenge, but we’re excited about it. This time, Reyka is working in the harbour, where she comes across stowaways, smuggling, prostitution and, of course, another serial killer.”
Serena Cullen added, “I’m so excited to be making ‘Reyka’ Season 2 and exploring the dark underworld of water in KZN. We plan to return even bigger and stronger than the first series, especially now that we have the global recognition ignited by Season 1.”
“Reyka” has sold to more than 147 territories for Fremantle, including North America (BritBox), U.K. (Channel 4), Canada (CBC), Germany (RTL), Italy (Sky Italia), Australia (SBS), Latin America (HBO LatAm) and territories across Europe, including Poland and France (Canal+).
The show also won four awards at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs). In addition, it was nominated for two International Emmy Awards, including best drama and best actress for Engelbrecht.
