The Death in Paradise franchise is expanding with its first-ever international adaptation. A Croatian version of the BBC crime drama has been announced, set to relocate the series to the island of Brac within a fictional island community.
The Croatian adaptation, titled Ubojstvo u raju, will be produced by a separate production company from the BBC programme, according to the Mirror. It will centre on an 'out of place' detective named Petar and a local police squad including Marina, whose knowledge of the island will test his established methods, Variety reported.
Producers Express Enthusiasm
Producers Bruno Mustic and Ivan Lovrecek told Variety they were "very excited" to deliver the series to Croatia. In a statement, they said: "The series is one of the BBC's most successful programs, and with Ubojstvo u raju we will bring that same blend of murder mystery, humor, warmth and strong sense of place to Croatia. We want to adapt the series to Croatian culture, creating an authentically Croatian world with characters and cases rooted in Adriatic Island life."
Rose Hughes, SVP Global Format Sales at BBC Studios, praised the programme's "intriguing murder mysteries and rich local character," adding: "We're delighted to see CGM Films bring the format to Croatia for its first-ever international adaptation, and look forward to seeing how they make it uniquely Croatian against a stunning new backdrop."
Croatian Audience Familiar with the Show
Producer Lovrecek informed Variety that Death in Paradise has cultivated a devoted following in Croatia, with audiences well acquainted with "its world, tone and characters". He continued: "But what we particularly love about Death in Paradise is how a proper whodunit is wrapped in sunshine, humour and warmth. For an hour, you're somewhere else. On a grey winter evening, that's pure escapism. That's a big part of why it works all over the world. We are not simply moving the original series to a Croatian location. We want the Croatian environment, culture and relationships to become integral to the stories and characters."
Original Series Renewed for Two More Seasons
The news follows the BBC's confirmation that Death in Paradise has been renewed for a further two series. Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, stated: "Death in Paradise is a global phenomenon and we are incredibly proud to have it on the BBC, where it goes from strength to strength. It's with great pleasure that we share the news that we'll be returning to Saint Marie for two more sun-soaked series and Christmas specials."
Tim Key, Executive Producer at Red Planet Pictures, remarked: "We remain incredibly proud of the show and the team that makes it, and delighted that the audience continue to love it as much as we do. The response to our latest series has been wonderful and we can't wait to get started again - we've got something very special lined up to kick off our 16th season, with a big surprise setting it up in our Christmas special. Watch this space..."
Death in Paradise first broadcast in 2011 and originally starred Ben Miller, with Don Gilet now taking the lead as DI Mervin Wilson. The show's success led to two spin-offs: Beyond Paradise, featuring Kris Marshall returning as DI Humphrey Goodman, and Return to Paradise, which debuted in 2024 with the first female DI. Death in Paradise is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
