On the Ropes

ended

ON THE ROPES is a thought-provoking but thrilling, a character-driven but plot-intensive original Flemish (Belgian) 8 X 50’ fiction-series with international ambitions. We follow Michel, once a talented young boxer, now a famous criminal lawyer in Antwerp, known for defending the worst criminals around, but… he still has a solid moral compass. When he refuses to defend a client in a case of human trafficking, the gangster threatens Michel’s daughter and in the ensuing fight Michel accidently kills the scumbag… Police and public prosecution use Michel’s troubles and push him in a spider’s web of manipulation between criminals, lawyers, police and prosecutors, with the goal for Michel to deliver a drug-lord and a Chinese human trafficking organization to “justice” on a silver plate… On the Ropes is a tough analysis of how criminals and the judicial system in Belgium interact. Within a high-octane plot we get to know Michel and four women, all important to him: his ex-wife and successful financial adviser Lydia, his extremely talented daughter Julie, suffering from Asperger, his African-Flemish legal partner Soraya and his ex-girlfriend, now Federal Prosecutor, Arielle. Produced by the experienced executive producer Jan Theys (Salamander, Professor T, Beau Séjour, Undercover, Diamonds) for Bravado/Brussels; Created & written by Ahsan Naeem, a Brit with Pakistani parents and French resident; Directed by co-executive producer Michel R.Roskam (Bullhead, The Drop, Le Fidèle); And in the leading role co-executive producer Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead, De Rouille et d’Os, The Danish Girl, Red Sparrow, etc)… On the Ropes is financed in Belgium by Streamz, VAF and tax shelter, in France by Canal Plus and Studiocanal (who strongly believe they can sell the series worldwide) and French co-producer is Capa Drama / Paris.