The Series Mania TV festival concluded on March 27, following eight days of eagerly awaited series premieres, including the world debut of “The Testaments,” the sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The festival also highlighted Disney+ and HBO Max’s strategies for Europe and the varied responses from the European industry in the post-Peak TV era.
With 5,200 delegates attending the Series Mania Forum and 110,000 spectators, the 2026 edition reaffirmed Series Mania’s position as Europe’s leading TV festival. However, the weather left much to be desired.
Thirteen key insights emerged from this year’s Series Mania, held from March 20-27 in Lille, northern France.
Bright Star on the Rise: Chase Infiniti in ‘The Testaments’
Following a breakout role in David E. Kelley’s 2024 “Presumed Innocent” and gaining global fame with “One Battle After Another,” Infiniti Chase starred in the Hulu/Disney+ sequel “The Testaments,” premiering on March 20 at Series Mania. While reactions to the show remain under Disney’s embargo, creator Bruce Miller praised Infiniti’s performance, comparing it to Elisabeth Moss’s debut as June/Offred. MB/JH
Disney+ to Boost European Content Investment
In a significant keynote at the Series Mania Forum, Angela Jain, head of content for Disney+ Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, promised increased investment across Europe. Evidence of this commitment includes a Disney+ documentary about Welsh singer Duffy, the Spanish docuseries “Abandoned,” the Italian mystery “Murder on Lake Garda,” and the Turkish comedy “The Strange Story of Gustav Maier.” JH
HBO Max Makes an Impact at Series Mania
Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max Head of Original Content, shared insights on producing the “Harry Potter” series, describing it as a significant financial investment with extraordinary results. She also announced a TV first-look deal with Domingo Corral from Spanish pay TV/SVOD Movistar Plus+, known for works like “The New Years” and “Querer.” ES/JH
Buzz Titles: Poland’s ‘Proud’ and BBC’s Successes
BBC’s “Waiting for the Out” and “Small Prophets” received high praise and won awards at Series Mania. Poland’s “Proud,” featuring a young gay man taking care of his sister’s baby, unexpectedly won the 2026 Grand Prix and Best Actor (Ignacy Liss). MB, JH
Churchill’s Legacy at Series Mania
Alain Berset, Council of Europe’s Secretary General, spoke about Europe’s storytelling heritage, referencing Churchill’s 1946 speech advocating for reconciliation. He emphasized the need for democratic access to markets for Europe’s producers, free from the influence of opaque algorithms and market forces. JH
Series Trends
According to Laurence Herszberg and Frédéric Lavigne, Series Mania’s managing and artistic directors, current series creation focuses on precision rather than scale. Many works address contemporary political and social tensions, with a notable theme of authoritarianism, as seen in titles like “Breendonk” and “The Testaments.” JH
The Future of Europe’s Public Broadcasters
Europe’s TV industry faces a crossroads, as streaming services grow while public TV struggles to compete. Ampere Analysis revealed that SVOD services in Western Europe grew significantly, while public TV operators accounted for a majority of TV fiction titles produced in Europe. JH
European Alliances: Arte and New8
Some European public broadcasters advocate for self-reliance through alliances and diversity. Arte France CEO Bruno Patino and New8’s Marianne Furevold-Boland emphasized the importance of collaboration to maintain the vitality of public service media. JH
Budget Constraints and Strategic Shifts
France Télévisions is revising its strategy due to budget cuts, focusing on local European content and partnerships with streamers. High-end miniseries are now limited, and American shows might be considered to fill programming slots if further budget reductions occur. EK
YouTube’s Growing Influence
Following Ted Sarandos’s comments, YouTube’s Justine Ryst emphasized the platform’s scale and strategy, highlighting its significant payouts to creators. YouTube is positioning itself as a key distribution partner for broadcasters, appealing to younger audiences. EK
Additional Buzz Titles
Molly Manning Walker’s “Major Players” and Arte’s “The Anatomy of a Moment” and “Etty” were well-received. Stefan Golaszewski’s “Babies” is gaining attention for its portrayal of pregnancy loss, boosted by Paapa Essiedu’s casting as Severus Snape in the upcoming “Harry Potter.” MB, JH
Emphasis on Originality
In Scandinavia, following Viaplay’s collapse, there’s a cautious approach to new projects. Banijay’s head of scripted, Steve Matthews, urged producers to be bold in their choices to stand out in a competitive environment. JH
Weather at Series Mania
Despite the vibrant events inside Lille’s Grand Palais, the weather was challenging, with strong winds, cold temperatures, and occasional hail. These conditions made it difficult for attendees to navigate the festival. ES
New Deals at Series Mania
*Iceland’s Act4, co-led by ‘Severance’ star Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, is collaborating with Kari Skogland, director of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” to adapt “Dead Weight,” a novel by Hildur Knútsdóttir.
*All3Media International secured global pre-sales for Gemma Arterton’s spy thriller “Secret Service” with ARD Plus, Movistar Plus+, Stan, Sky, and BBC.
*‘Squid Game’ stars Lee Byung-hun and Han Jimin (“Heavenly Ever After”) have started filming Disney+ K-Drama “The Koreans,” inspired by FX’s “The Americans.”
*German broadcasters ARD and WDR renewed “Ghosts” for a second season, following its success on CBS.
*Gaumont USA has optioned “Opus,” an exposé of the Catholic organization Opus Dei, by Gareth Gore.
*The HBO Max and WBD Access writers’ program returns to the Series Mania Institute for a second year, focusing on writers connected to France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
*Beta Film is involved in the Spanish dramedy “In Vitro,” featured at Series Mania’s Buyers Upfront.
*Deon Meyer’s crime novels are being adapted for TV by Both Worlds and Paradoxal, with Netflix’s “Heart of the Hunter” reaching No. 1 on its global top 10 for English-language films.
*‘Empathy’ director Guillaume Lonergan plans to shoot his debut feature “Denise sans Denis,” starring Josée Deschênes, blending comedy, drama, and dreamlike moments, Lonergan told Variety.
*Global Constellation is producing the Indonesia-set drama “Heaven’s Gate.”
*Beta Film Group’s Autentic acquired world rights to Contrast Film’s Swiss docuseries “Game Over – The Fall of Credit Suisse.”
*The “Soviet Jeans” team began production on “The Last Divorce of Communism,” a late-Soviet love story.
*France TV Distribution finalized deals in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. with Walter Presents for the French procedural “Curious by Nature,” featuring Florence Pernel.
*The undercover drama “Getting Under Your Skin” from Simon Boulerice has been greenlit for a second season.
*Tzi Ma, Rae Dawn Chong, and Aileen Wu will feature in the Canadian series “Charlie Chan,” a modern adaptation set in Vancouver.
*Okada Junichi will host Nippon TV’s “The Floor,” marking Asia’s first edition of the global quiz format. JH
