Boat Rocker boards BBC Scotland and Sky NZ thriller 'The Ridge'

Canadian producer-distributor Boat Rocker has boarded BBC Scotland and Sky New Zealand thriller The Ridge, which has been officially commissioned by the broadcasters. 

Toronto-headquartered Boat Rocker (Video Nasty) has partnered with New Zealand’s Great Southern Studios (Friends Like Her) and David Murdoch’s Glasgow-based Sinner Films (The Most Assassinated Woman In The World) to co-produce the six-part series, which emerged last year.

The Ridge follows a woman who accepts her estranged sister’s wedding invitation in New Zealand, fleeing her life of addiction in Scotland. But when she arrives, her sister is dead, triggering her to get swept up in the tensions of the local mountain community. 

Nora Chassler and David Murdoch created and wrote the series, with writers Alan Campbell and Jess Sayer. Executive producers include Boat Rocker’s Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier, president of global rights, franchise and content strategy Jon Rutherford, and senior vice-president of global co-production Erik Pack.

The series has funding support from NZ On Air and the NZ Screen Production Rebate, and the deal was brokered by Pack and chief executive of Great Southern Studios Cate Calver.

Production will begin in January 2025 in New Zealand. It will be available to audiences on BBC Scotland, Sky Open and Neon in 2025. Boat Rocker will distribute internationally.