Slovak broadcaster Markiza and NBCUniversal Formats have now unveiled the full cast of the upcoming crime drama Sin, the Slovak adaptation of hit series The Sinner.

CEETV was the first international industry media outlet to break the news about the remake last month.

As we reported, Sin will premiere on Markíza on September 7 at 20.30, becoming the latest local adaptation in the broadcaster’s growing slate of psychological crime dramas following Lies (Liar), Guilt (Broadchurch), In the Grip (Smother) and Betrayal (Doctor Foster).

The series is based on the internationally successful The Sinner, which ran for four seasons, with each season focusing on a different case. Markíza will initially adapt the first season, consisting of eight episodes, meaning Sin will occupy Monday evenings throughout September and October.

"Today's viewer is increasingly demanding and expects a story from each new series that will surprise them and keep them hooked until the very end. Sin is exactly that kind of title. From the first episode, it forces the viewer to think about what actually happened and why, with each subsequent answer opening up new questions. I believe that it is precisely this intensity and emotion that will win the attention of the audience," said Alexandra Dubovská, Director of the Markíza Group Production Center.

“With its unique approach to the crime genre, The Sinner has become an exceptional format with strong international potential,” adds Albertina Marfil, Director of Format Sales and Production at NBCUniversal Formats. “We are very pleased to collaborate with TV Markíza and Paprika Studios to bring Sin, the first ever international adaptation of this format, to Slovak audiences. We look forward to seeing how it is received.”

Unlike conventional crime dramas, The Sinner reveals the identity of the perpetrator almost immediately. The central mystery is why the crime was committed and what psychological circumstances led the perpetrator to violence.

The first season opens with a shocking murder on a beach. Young mother Cora Tannetti suddenly and seemingly without reason fatally stabs an unknown man in front of dozens of witnesses before immediately confessing to the crime. The Slovak adaptation will follow the same central premise.

Markíza has cast Ady Hajdu as detective Ondrej Gregor, the Slovak counterpart of the original series’ central character, detective Harry Ambrose.

Ambrose is an experienced investigator marked by personal demons who approaches cases differently from conventional detectives. Rather than simply seeking to establish guilt, he attempts to understand the psychology of suspects and uncover the chain of events that led them to commit violent acts.

Hajdu said he was particularly attracted to the character because Gregor is not a conventional investigator.

“What interested me most about Ondrej is that he is not a classic investigator. He is essentially a psychologist who tries to understand people, empathize with them and uncover their darker sides,” Hajdu said.

Hajdu will be joined by several actors who have appeared in Markíza’s period drama Danube, At Your Service, including Kristína Svarinská.

Svarinská, who plays alongside Hajdu in Danube, will portray Lucia Kubincová, the central suspect and killer in the opening case. Her character commits the murder in the first minutes of the story, but the series gradually reveals the layers behind her actions.

“At first glance, it is almost clear what happened because my character enters the story as a murderer, which is not a very positive position. Lucia, however, hides many layers and different shades, and that was incredibly interesting for me as an actress,” Svarinská said.

Hajdu and Svarinská both described Sin as a new acting challenge, particularly because of its darker psychological tone.

“It is a genre I have never played before, so it was a major challenge for me and the other actors. Looking for the dark sides within yourself is also great fun because, in a way, you free and cleanse yourself through it,” Hajdu said.

Other actors from Danube joining Sin include Jakub Jablonský, Martin Mňahončák and Kamila Heribanová.

The cast also features Kristína Sisková, known from Promise, as well as Jana Hubinská, Braňo Deák, Filip Šebesta, Daniel Žulčák, Marta Sládečková, Ivo Gogál, Peter Kočiš, Dorota Peniašková and Rebeka Poláková.

Markíza has so far confirmed only the adaptation of the first eight-episode season. The broadcaster has yet to reveal what will follow Sin in its Monday-night schedule once the series concludes in October.