SkyShowtime has officially announced a brand-new Polish original series Pionek (working title), which is set to start production later this year. The series will follow-on from SkyShowtime’s hit original drama Śleboda and is based on the second book in the critically acclaimed set of crime novels by Małgorzata Fugiel-Kuźmińska and Michał Kuźmiński. Śleboda was based on the first novel by the authors.

Pionek (w/t) continues to follow the story of young anthropologist Anka Serafin and journalist Sebastian Strzygoń, this time taking viewers to the rural landscape of Upper Silesia in Poland. Actors Maria Dębska and Maciej Musiał are set to return in the lead roles.

The series will be directed by Michał Gazda and Bartosz Blaschke, with Maciej Lisiecki as Director of Cinematography. The screenplay is by Karolina Frankowska and Katarzyna Golenia, and Magdalena Szwedkowicz serves as Producer. The series will be produced by MAG Entertainment. Filming for Pionek (w/t) will begin later this year, with further details on the project to be announced in due course.

SkyShowtime’s Chief Content Officer, Kai Finke said; “Following on from the stand-out success of SkyShowtime Original Śleboda, we’re incredibly excited to continue the gripping story of Anka Serfain and Sebastian Strzygoń with Pionek (w/t), sharing another compelling installment from Małgorzata Fugiel-Kuźmińska and Michał Kuźmiński’s acclaimed crime series. As our first Polish recommission, Pionek (w/t) marks a thrilling new chapter for Polish drama on SkyShowtime and reflects our commitment to working with the best creative talent to produce authentic, locally produced storytelling.”

SkyShowtime Original Śleboda, based on the first novel by Małgorzata Fugiel-Kuźmińska and Michał Kuźmiński, premiered at the end of 2024. The series attracted almost half of all Polish SkyShowtime subscribers who began watching the gripping crime drama within the first two weeks, with near 90% of viewers continuing to watch after the first episode. Śleboda was also nominated for the 2025 Polish Film Awards ‘Orły’, in the category of Best TV Drama Series, as well as for the Polish Screenwriters Guild Award for Best Screenplay in a TV Drama.

Pionek (w/t) is SkyShowtime’s first original recommission in Poland and joins the streamer’s growing slate of original Polish productions, including the highly-anticipated series The Cop. A New Chapter (Glina. Nowy rozdział), which premiered on the service just last week. Later this year, viewers will also be able to watch SkyShowtime’s first Polish documentary series, Krychowiak: One Step from the Top.