Pulse Films Signs Acclaimed Writer Gregory Burke for Narco Terrorism Series

Pulse Films is cementing its heavyweight credentials as a studio home for prestige talent with new scripted drama series, ATOMIC BAZAAR (w/t) with prolific writer Gregory Burke (71, ENTEBBE, BLACK WATCH).  

The project will be co-developed and co-financed by First Look Media’s Topic Studios.

ATOMIC BAZAAR (w/t) follows Pulse’s recent GANGS OF LONDON (Sky Atlantic & HBO Cinemax) announcement; an explosive new TV series helmed by Gareth Evans (THE RAID franchise, APOSTLE) as showrunner, co-writing and directing with his long-time collaborator Matt Flannery (THE RAID franchise, MERANTAU).  

Pulse’s Thomas Benski and Lucas Ochoa and First Look’s Michael Bloom and Adam Pincus will executive produce ATOMIC BAZAAR (w/t), with filming slated to begin on the 10 x 1’ series in 2018. The two studios are currently partnering, with the BFI, on the upcoming documentary film “XY Chelsea” about the trans woman and former US Army intelligence analyst turned whistle blower, Chelsea Manning, whose military prison sentence was ultimately commuted by former President Obama.

Blending high stakes tension and jeopardy via the worlds of narco-tracking, espionage and terrorism, ATOMIC BAZAAR (w/t) is an elevated, contemporary series at the cutting edge of reality. The character driven, global action show imagines a terrifying real-world scenario where a plot forms to use the world’s drug smuggling routes to deliver a nuclear weapon into a major world city.

Stretching from a drug lord’s lavish compound, to an on-the-ground hunt for the enemy in the wildest places on earth, to secret CIA and MI6 stations and the glamorous and shady world of narcotics deal brokering, the series, based on years of research, follows spooks, mercenaries, politicians, drug lords and terrorists all colliding in the centre of a plot to devastate the western world. The project is inspired by the non-fiction book “Atomic Bazaar” by Vanity Fair journalist William Langewiesche.

Greg Burke said: "I am very excited to work with Pulse Films and create a series which examines the ultimate nightmare for the West's security forces. Our characters will lead the audience into a parallel world where terrorists, traffickers, and our governments operate beyond any laws, national or international, and where no-one knows which side anyone is truly on."

Thomas Benski, CEO of Pulse Films said: “Atomic Bazaar (w/t) is a powerfully written, high-octane and complex series told through Greg’s narrative. As a studio we are very excited to embark on this journey with him – a partnership that affirms our commitment to find unique stories and match them to the best talent – and one that lays down a marker for the type of scripted drama projects to come from our in-house team”

Lucas Ochoa, MD of Film and Scripted TV at Pulse Films added: “We are delighted to be partnering with First Look’s Topic Studios again and collaborating so closely with Greg Burke on such a thrilling series. Built from years of extensive original research, and the award-winning investigative reporting of Vanity Fair journalist William Langewiesche, Atomic Bazaar marks another significant step forward for our Scripted TV slate and Pulse's commitment to producing powerful stories for global audiences.”

Adam Pincus, EVP of Programming & Content at First Look Media said: “We’re so glad to be working with Pulse on another urgent and provocative project, and thrilled that Greg’s come aboard to create it. This series is a natural fit with the kinds of film and TV we’re making at Topic – powerful filmmaker- driven stories that have something meaningful to say about the world we live in.”