Channel 4 acquires gritty South African crime drama The Cane Field Killings, otherwise known as Reyka, starring Kim Engelbrecht and Iain Glen

17 March 2022

Channel 4 has acquired South African detective drama The Cane Field Killings, starring Kim Engelbrecht (Bullet Proof, The Flash, Eye in the Sky) and Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey). The eight-episode series, which launched last year to rave reviews in South Africa, will launch on Channel 4 on 10th April 2022 at 10pm. All episodes will then be available on All 4.

The Cane Field Killings tells the story of a brilliant criminal profiler, Reyka Gama (Engelbrecht), who is struggling to comes to terms with her dark past. Having been abducted as a child by farmer Angus Speelman (Iain Glen), Reyka now channels that traumatic experience to enter into the mindset of Africa’s most notorious criminals.  The series follows her investigation into a string of brutal murders committed by a serial killer in the sugar cane fields of Kwa-Zulu-Natal.

20 years on from her abduction, the manipulative, charming Speelman still exerts a powerful hold on Reyka, and this relationship, together with the one she is struggling to rebuild with her mother Elsa forms the backbone of the story. The series takes viewers into a tropical world of stifling heat and dangerous wildlife, ruled by a criminal underworld and characterised by shadowy political manoeuvring.   

Nick Lee, Channel 4’s Head of Acquisitions, said: “The Cane Field Killings is a striking crime drama with a compelling lead character and a deep sense of place. It’s a rarely told South African perspective on a detective story which brings together fascinating historical and contemporary themes and which we’re thrilled to bring to British audiences on Channel 4 and All 4.”

Produced by Serena Cullen (Four Lives, BBC One) for Serena Cullen Productions and Harriet Gavshon for Quizzical Pictures. The Cane Field Killings is a co-production between M-Net and Fremantle and is distributed internationally by Fremantle. The series was created by Rohan Dickson and executive produced by Jan du Plessis, Yolisa Phahle Allan Sperling, Harriet Gavshon and Serena Cullen.

 

ENDS

For more information, images, or previews please contact Mira Ryness, mryness@channel4.co.uk

For all interview requests for Kim Engelbrecht and Iain Glen please contact Mike Thomas, Mike.thomas@fremantle.com