MHz Choice has picked up exclusive U.S. streaming rights to The Man Who Died, a Finnish dark comedy-thriller that became the most-watched series on Elisa Viihde after its 2022 launch. The first season premieres Dec. 1, and the second season, which never streamed in the U.S. during its original run on Acorn TV, arrives in 2027.
The deal in numbers
The agreement was struck between distributor Media Musketeers and Kino Lorber’s MHz Choice. Season 1 was produced by ReelMedia and co-produced by ndF; Season 2 was produced by ReelMedia, with Media Musketeers Studios and Sophisticated Films co-producing. Season 2 launched in Finland in August last year.
Based on Antti Tuomainen’s best-selling book, the series stars Jussi Vatanen as mushroom entrepreneur Jaako, who discovers he has been fatally slow-poisoned. Sara Soulié, Saara Kotkaniemi and Matti Onnismaa also star. Brendan Foley, known for Sherlock & Daughter, wrote the series, with Samuli Valkama directing.
Why this rights move matters
This is not a one-off import. MHz Choice has been assembling a catalog of international drama that U.S. audiences could not previously stream. The streamer has done the same with Babylon Berlin and Das Boot, two titles that had never streamed in the U.S. before their deals. That positioning turns a small platform into a destination for viewers who have already burned through mainstream libraries and want distinct foreign-language titles.
For media planners and streaming marketers, the value is in the windowing. The service gets an immediate hook on Dec. 1, then a second retention event when Season 2 arrives in 2027. That structure gives subscribers a reason to stay and gives the platform a longer content roadmap without commissioning an original. Rights deals like this are typically cheaper and lower-risk than original production; they come with existing audience proof and a book IP as a marketing asset.
- Proven demand: The 2022 Finnish run made it Elisa Viihde’s most-watched series, lowering programming risk for MHz Choice.
- Two release windows: Season 1 on Dec. 1, Season 2 in 2027 creates a long-term retention hook.
- Niche catalog play: It joins Babylon Berlin, Das Boot and other titles that had no prior U.S. streaming home.
The strategic read
Lance Schwulst, Executive Vice President of Content Strategy at MHz Choice, called the show a “gripping and uniquely Finnish crime thriller” and said the streamer wants to give U.S. viewers their “first chance to see where the story goes in the long-awaited second season.” That language frames the deal as a service to underserved audiences, but it is also a differentiation strategy: when a platform cannot outspend Netflix or Prime Video, it can out-curate them.
The challenge is discoverability. A Finnish title with a quirky premise needs positioning: dark comedy, crime, a strong local lead performance, and a proven book fanbase. Expect marketing to lean on the Tuomainen novel, the Vatanen performance, and the “finally in the U.S.” angle rather than pure genre packaging.
For buyers and advertisers watching the niche streaming segment, this is the pattern to track: second-window international acquisitions, staggered season releases, and catalog exclusives that give smaller platforms a sharper identity without a blockbuster budget.
Source: Deadline
