EXCLUSIVE:The Eastern Gatewill open again onMax.
Furthermore, it is the second most-viewed non-English language series globally since its premiere after Brazilian telenovelaScars of Beauty.
The data is from January 31-March 7 and the performance of all European local originals over those 35 days.
‘The Eastern Gate’ and WBD exec Dorota Eberhardt (inset)Iza Grzybowsk/WBD
We want to be in the conversation.The Eastern Gateexceeded all our expectations to that end.
Its just brutal reality.
It is amazing that the story ended up so close to reality, said Eberhardt.
Only ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 has rated better than ‘The Eastern Gate’ for Max PolandHBO
Development is well underway, with Matuszynski returning to direct.
Another isPieko Kobiet(Womens Hell), a series from Oscar-winningThe Zone of Interestproducer Ewa Puszczynska.
The series is currently in production, having begun shooting this month, with Anna Maliszewska directing.
The whole story is around the first wave of feminists in Poland, said Eberhardt.
Its about womens empowerment and the right to choose.
Adolescenceis an absolutely amazing story, and this is the kind of creative competition I enjoy, said Eberhardt.
WBD in Poland
Poland has been a key European market for WBD for many years.
However, Eberhardt makes a compelling pitch for her streamers credentials.
We make 3,000 hours a year.
We have absolutely incredible know-how and we are very competitive in terms of production budgets.
This all gives us this an advantage over the competition.
TVN produces films and these too can be piped through to Max should the pic fit the streamers focus.
Different platforms have different audiences, and the titles can work in different windows.
Whatever form the budget takes, Ebehardt says the focus is to tell tell important, current stories.
As forThe Eastern Gates second season, expectations are now sky-high.
We want it to surpass it, not only number-wise, says Eberhardt.
The expectations for sequels are always higher from the audience, and ourselves.
We want more drama, more characters, more twists and more great plots.
We have to bring so much more, and thats what makes it so challenging.
