International sales and financing outfit Global Constellation has boarded five-episode limited series “Heaven’s Gate” for global sales. The company is presenting the series to international buyers for the first time at Series Mania.
Set across dual timelines in 1942 and the mid-1990s, “Heaven’s Gate” follows Saskia, a woman who travels to Indonesia with her teenage daughter, Alex, after inheriting a long-abandoned plantation, called Heaven’s Gate. What begins as a practical decision soon evolves into a haunting journey into buried secrets of her family’s colonial history. Saskia relives the life of Anisa, a Javanese woman in 1942 – entangled in a love triangle with plantation owner Jan Stokman and his wife, Marie.
As Saskia becomes consumed by these visions, Alex fears for her mother’s sanity and struggles to keep her grounded. Determined to uncover the plantation’s secrets, Saskia risks losing herself entirely to its haunting history.
The show, which is the first official Netherlands-Malaysia television co-production, is directed by Jim Taihuttu (“The East,” “Hardcore Never Dies,” “Wolf”) and Lisette Donkersloot (“Sihame”). It is written by Jim Taihuttu together with Randy Oost (“Mocro Maffia,” “Suga: Ride or Die”), Amira Duynhouwer (“Nemesis,” “Mocro Maffia”) and Victor D. Ponten (“Mocro Maffia,” “Rabat”).
The cast includes Denise Aznam (“The East,” “Ninja Nanny”), Anneke Sluiters (“Heresy”), Gijs Naber (“The Night Manager,” “The Story of My Wife”), Bront Palarae (“Ghost in the Cell,” “Satan’s Slaves,” “Rajah”) and Abimana Aryasatya (“The Night Comes for Us,” “The Big 4”).
Production is underway in Malaysia with delivery scheduled for early 2027.
The series is produced by New Amsterdam Film Company, co-produced by Kinovisuals, and commissioned by Netherlands Public Broadcasters NPO and NTR.
The production is supported by the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, the National Public Broadcasting Fund (NPO Fund), and the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), administered by Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional Malaysia (FINAS).
“Heaven’s Gate” joins Global Constellation’s expanding and diverse TV and film slate including the fantasy drama series “All Heroes Are Bastards,” written and directed by Esra and Patrick Phul, the International Emmy Award-winning animated docuseries “On Fritzi’s Trace – What Was It Like in the GDR?” and Sophie Heldman’s “The Education of Jane Cumming.”
Ulrike Schröder, managing director of TV at Global Constellation, said, “ ‘Heaven’s Gate’ brings a distinctive international perspective, weaving historical and colonial narratives that resonate with global audiences and reflects the storytelling that Global Constellation champions. Jim Taihuttu, Lisette Donkersloot and the wider team are exceptional talents, and we’re excited to present this bold new series to international partners for the first time at Series Mania, where we see a strong and meaningful cross-market appeal.”
Sander Verdonk, producer and founder of New Amsterdam Film Company, said, “Securing Global Constellation for international sales is a testament to the universal appeal of ‘Heaven’s Gate.’ This series defines our ambition to reach broad audiences with high-end, auteur-driven content. We look forward to introducing this distinctive intersectional perspective to international partners at Series Mania as production continues in Malaysia.”
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