Gutsy Pictures Wins MTV Commission for Psychological Drama Dangerous Woman
Finnish Drama Series to be Co-produced with Zeitsprung in Germany and GötaFilm in Sweden
London, 15 September 2026 – Independent production company Gutsy Pictures, producer of the award-winning L/Over, has secured a commission from leading Finnish commercial broadcaster MTV for Dangerous Woman, a bold new psychological drama created by Gutsy CEO and award-winning producer Marika Makaroff.
The 6 x 42-minute series will be produced by Gutsy Pictures in co-production with Zeitsprung in Germany and GötaFilm in Sweden, bringing together producers from three leading European drama markets. TV4 in Sweden has already pre-bought the series.
Dangerous Woman is written by BAFTA and RTS Award-winning writer Kevin Rundle, who previously collaborated with Gutsy on L/Over. His credits include Gangs of London (Sky), The Thaw (HBO Europe), Casualty and EastEnders (BBC One). Playwright and screenwriter Laura Lomas (Hanna for Amazon, The Midwich Cuckoos for Sky and The Crow Girl for ITV/Paramount) is also a writer on the series.
The series will be directed by award-winning Finnish filmmaker Zaida Bergroth, whose credits include Tove (Helsinki-filmi), Maria’s Paradise (Komeetta Filmi), The Good Son (Bufo), Miami (Helsinki-filmi) and SVT crime drama Detective #24.
A middle-aged woman at the peak of her career violently attacks a male visitor at an interior design fair, using a fork as her weapon. When she is arrested, bigger secrets begin to surface. The woman has been living as someone else for years and now she’s attached to an unsolved murder case. The question is: who is the woman and is she really dangerous? Dangerous Woman unfolds across three timelines: the main character’s childhood, adulthood, and the present day. These timelines reveal her psychological map – why she became the woman she is, and why she is dangerous.
Marika Makaroff said: “I’ve wanted to tell this story for ten years, but when I first wrote it, the idea felt almost too extreme. Today, hatred has become increasingly normalised, and I wanted to explore what happens when it moves beyond words and becomes physical. I approach Laura with compassion. She has spent a lifetime being belittled, dominated and abused, and eventually reaches her breaking point. Through her, I’m asking a difficult question: can violence or revenge ever be justified? And if we become those we hate, who does that serve? The series is a mix of dark humour, psychological thriller and social drama, but ultimately it is a story about humanity, grace and forgiveness.”
Janne Vakio, Commissions & Content Development Manager at MTV added: “At MTV, we believe great stories become even stronger through great partnerships. Dangerous Woman brings together a bold creative vision, top-tier talent and producers from three markets with a shared ambition: to create a distinctive Nordic drama that can resonate both at home and internationally.”
Dangerous Woman picture credit Elina Simonen
For further information please contact:
Janet Balmforth, Liberi Consulting
janet@libericonsulting.com tel: + 44 (0) 7748 185656
About Gutsy Pictures
Founded in February 2025 by award-winning Finnish creator and director Marika Makaroff, Gutsy Pictures is a production company creating bold, distinctive content across genres, focusing on core values of hope, acceptance, equality and life affirmation.
The company brings together key members of the creative team behind the acclaimed four-series Moominvalley from Gutsy Animations, including Commercial Director Katherine Senior and Development Executive Emmi Nilivaara.
Gutsy Pictures’ debut drama, L/Over, premiered on MTV Finland in January 2026, quickly becoming Finland’s highest-rated drama series of the year and earning a place in competition at Canneseries 2025. The series has been sold to 21 territories, with international distribution handled by REinvent Studios.
Gutsy’s growing slate spans premium drama, animation and innovative entertainment formats.
