EXCLUSIVE: Nick and Jon Hamm’s Free Turn Entertainment has set a hybrid game-podcast mystery about the Cold War as its next project.
The indie has partnered with Spotify on Cold Tapes: Winter Over, which it has described as a “true-crime style audio game set in the frozen and isolated world of an Antarctic winter.”
Listeners have to figure out the mystery by wading through a cache of audio files, including police interviews, victim’s audio diaries and evidence in the immersive series.
The story follows the intertwined lives and relationships of a small group of international scientists and crew stationed on Bowers Wilson, a remote research station in Antarctica. Protagonist DCI Tessa McCallister will attempt to solve the mysterious death of 33-year-old behavioural scientist Andrew Fairfield from 9000 miles away in the UK. Those who correctly identify the murderer can enter a competition to have a chance of winning a £10,000 ($12,500) cash prize and the title of ‘British Super Sleuth 2024’, which will be awarded at Crime Con London 2024.
Free Turn said it collaborated with a number of professionals to develop the script and storyline, including police officers, polar adventurers and researchers.
“For anyone who loves nothing more than a new binge-able true-crime podcast, and simultaneously fancies their chance at solving a complex and intriguing crime, Cold Tapes is for them,” said Sian Williams, show director and producer at Free Turn Entertainment. “We’ve brought the authenticity of a real life police investigation together with the unique experience and soundscape of an Antarctic research base to create something immersive and totally addictive.”
Free Turn was recently behind Audible sci-fi drama podcast The Salvation starring Ariyon Bakare, Rose Leslie and Toby Jones.