ITV

Category: English Entertainment

  • Keshet International inks first-look deal with Woodcut Media

    Keshet International inks first-look deal with Woodcut Media

    MUMBAI: Keshet International (KI) has signed a first-look distribution and development deal with UK-based production entity Woodcut Media. 

     

    Under the agreement, KI will get exclusive access to Woodcut’s new non-scripted factual crime slate for worldwide distribution, building on its emerging slate of non-scripted, English language finished programming. 

     

    “Woodcut’s expertise and track record in producing successful true crime series, which has always been a popular genre but is even more in vogue at the moment, makes their slate a brilliant addition to the KI portfolio. This deal is another step towards our ambition to grow a larger finished English language programming catalogue. Our partnering with Woodcut is testament to our aim to work with prolific UK independents,” said Keshet International business development and acquisitions head Sebastian Burkhardt.

     

    Woodcut Media CEO Kate Beal added, “Teaming up with Keshet is a great move for Woodcut and we are confident this will be a fruitful alliance to further deliver our crime shows to a global audience. A number of our titles in development are already being sought after by broadcasters, and the genre itself just goes from strength to strength. We very much look forward to making further announcements over the coming months.”

  • Keshet International inks first-look deal with Woodcut Media

    Keshet International inks first-look deal with Woodcut Media

    MUMBAI: Keshet International (KI) has signed a first-look distribution and development deal with UK-based production entity Woodcut Media. 

     

    Under the agreement, KI will get exclusive access to Woodcut’s new non-scripted factual crime slate for worldwide distribution, building on its emerging slate of non-scripted, English language finished programming. 

     

    “Woodcut’s expertise and track record in producing successful true crime series, which has always been a popular genre but is even more in vogue at the moment, makes their slate a brilliant addition to the KI portfolio. This deal is another step towards our ambition to grow a larger finished English language programming catalogue. Our partnering with Woodcut is testament to our aim to work with prolific UK independents,” said Keshet International business development and acquisitions head Sebastian Burkhardt.

     

    Woodcut Media CEO Kate Beal added, “Teaming up with Keshet is a great move for Woodcut and we are confident this will be a fruitful alliance to further deliver our crime shows to a global audience. A number of our titles in development are already being sought after by broadcasters, and the genre itself just goes from strength to strength. We very much look forward to making further announcements over the coming months.”

  • Fox acquires new thriller from J.J. Abrams, Stephen King, Bridget Carpenter

    Fox acquires new thriller from J.J. Abrams, Stephen King, Bridget Carpenter

     

    MUMBAI: 11.22.63, the event series thriller from executive producers J.J. Abrams, Stephen King and Bridget Carpenter will premiere in select European territories this spring exclusively on Fox.

     

    The deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution secures exclusive first-run linear and non-linear rights in 18 European markets, including Bulgaria, Flemish-speaking Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the U.K.

     

    Based on King’s best-selling 2011 novel, the epic new nine-hour event series 11.22.63 combines the talents of Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, best-selling author King with executive producer/writer Carpenter and Warner Bros. Television.

     

    Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald directs and serves as executive producer for the two-hour series premiere. Distributed around the world by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, the series is executive produced by Abrams, King, Carpenter and Bryan Burk.

     

    11.22.63 will roll out weekly over eight weeks on Fox channels and via associated video on-demand services.

     

    Fox EVP for distribution Caleb Weinstein said, “The golden age of television is being driven by serialised drama. And in 2016, Fox channels across Europe are at the forefront: delivering on-demand access to the best content in the world, whenever and wherever our Pay TV subscribers want to watch.”

     

    Fox SVP global acquisitions Jason Simms added, “We are delighted to be working with Warner Bros. on 11.22.63. With its epic and suspenseful story complemented by an absolutely incredible array of talent, both behind and in front of the camera, we are confident our audiences will love what promises to be one of 2016’s hottest shows, first on Fox.”

     

    Starring an ensemble cast, 11.22.63 hurtles viewers deep into the unpredictable darkness of the American Dream. Academy Award nominee James Franco stars as Jake Epping, a high school teacher at a loss with his life, who wants to make a difference and do something meaningful. Encouraged by his ailing friend, Al Templeton (Chris Cooper), Jake journeys back in time in an attempt to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

     

    The story transports audiences into the world of 1960s Texas as Jake explores the multiple mysteries surrounding the alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber). But Jake’s mission faces threats not only from Oswald, but also from Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon), a beautiful librarian he falls in love with, and from the Past itself…which doesn’t want to be changed. And if the Past doesn’t want to be changed, it will push back – often violently.

     

    The cast also includes Cherry Jones, Lucy Fry, George MacKay, Leon Rippy, Kevin J. O’Connor, T.R. Knight, Jonny Coyne, Brooklyn Sudano and Tonya Pinkins, with Josh Duhamel.

     

     

     

  • Fox acquires new thriller from J.J. Abrams, Stephen King, Bridget Carpenter

    Fox acquires new thriller from J.J. Abrams, Stephen King, Bridget Carpenter

     

    MUMBAI: 11.22.63, the event series thriller from executive producers J.J. Abrams, Stephen King and Bridget Carpenter will premiere in select European territories this spring exclusively on Fox.

     

    The deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution secures exclusive first-run linear and non-linear rights in 18 European markets, including Bulgaria, Flemish-speaking Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the U.K.

     

    Based on King’s best-selling 2011 novel, the epic new nine-hour event series 11.22.63 combines the talents of Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, best-selling author King with executive producer/writer Carpenter and Warner Bros. Television.

     

    Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald directs and serves as executive producer for the two-hour series premiere. Distributed around the world by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, the series is executive produced by Abrams, King, Carpenter and Bryan Burk.

     

    11.22.63 will roll out weekly over eight weeks on Fox channels and via associated video on-demand services.

     

    Fox EVP for distribution Caleb Weinstein said, “The golden age of television is being driven by serialised drama. And in 2016, Fox channels across Europe are at the forefront: delivering on-demand access to the best content in the world, whenever and wherever our Pay TV subscribers want to watch.”

     

    Fox SVP global acquisitions Jason Simms added, “We are delighted to be working with Warner Bros. on 11.22.63. With its epic and suspenseful story complemented by an absolutely incredible array of talent, both behind and in front of the camera, we are confident our audiences will love what promises to be one of 2016’s hottest shows, first on Fox.”

     

    Starring an ensemble cast, 11.22.63 hurtles viewers deep into the unpredictable darkness of the American Dream. Academy Award nominee James Franco stars as Jake Epping, a high school teacher at a loss with his life, who wants to make a difference and do something meaningful. Encouraged by his ailing friend, Al Templeton (Chris Cooper), Jake journeys back in time in an attempt to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

     

    The story transports audiences into the world of 1960s Texas as Jake explores the multiple mysteries surrounding the alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber). But Jake’s mission faces threats not only from Oswald, but also from Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon), a beautiful librarian he falls in love with, and from the Past itself…which doesn’t want to be changed. And if the Past doesn’t want to be changed, it will push back – often violently.

     

    The cast also includes Cherry Jones, Lucy Fry, George MacKay, Leon Rippy, Kevin J. O’Connor, T.R. Knight, Jonny Coyne, Brooklyn Sudano and Tonya Pinkins, with Josh Duhamel.

     

     

     

  • Comedy Central to screen ‘Suits’ premiere episode in Mumbai before US telecast

    Comedy Central to screen ‘Suits’ premiere episode in Mumbai before US telecast

    MUMBAI: Comedy Central is all set to create history in the English Entertainment space by screening the premiere episode of Suits on 27 January in Mumbai, which will be 12 hours before its original international airing.

     

    Comedy Central will host the exclusive screening at Tilt All Day in Mumbai, wherein fans get a chance to watch the episode before anyone in the world.

     

    After the shocking mid-season finale in which Mike gets arrested for fraud, Suits is all set to return to India from 31 January at 8 pm on Comedy Central.

     

    “The men in Suits are back and this time we’ve got the upper hand, for the first time ever a select few in India will have the privilege of watching Harvey Specter, Mike Ross, upstage Louis Litt and the gang in an exclusive screening 12 hours prior to the US telecast. It’s going to be a special evening as true fans of Suitsalign to catch their favourite lawyers playing one hell of a power game. It is definitely an exciting event for us and I’m absolutely sure every single person at the screening is going to have a fabulous time,” said Viacom18 vice president and marketing head – English Entertainment Sabrin D’Souza.

  • Comedy Central to screen ‘Suits’ premiere episode in Mumbai before US telecast

    Comedy Central to screen ‘Suits’ premiere episode in Mumbai before US telecast

    MUMBAI: Comedy Central is all set to create history in the English Entertainment space by screening the premiere episode of Suits on 27 January in Mumbai, which will be 12 hours before its original international airing.

     

    Comedy Central will host the exclusive screening at Tilt All Day in Mumbai, wherein fans get a chance to watch the episode before anyone in the world.

     

    After the shocking mid-season finale in which Mike gets arrested for fraud, Suits is all set to return to India from 31 January at 8 pm on Comedy Central.

     

    “The men in Suits are back and this time we’ve got the upper hand, for the first time ever a select few in India will have the privilege of watching Harvey Specter, Mike Ross, upstage Louis Litt and the gang in an exclusive screening 12 hours prior to the US telecast. It’s going to be a special evening as true fans of Suitsalign to catch their favourite lawyers playing one hell of a power game. It is definitely an exciting event for us and I’m absolutely sure every single person at the screening is going to have a fabulous time,” said Viacom18 vice president and marketing head – English Entertainment Sabrin D’Souza.

  • Anil Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment to produce French movie

    Anil Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment to produce French movie

    MUMBAI: Anil D. Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment has inked an Indo-French partnership with Julie Gayet’s Rouge International, and Elisa Soussan’s myFamily, to produce Serge Hazanavicius’ French movie, nOmber One.

     

    Kev Adams, who has earlier been seen in movies like Les Profs 2 and Les Nouvelles Aventures d’Aladin, will play the lead role. 

     

    nOmber One tells the story of a quest, and of the ascension of a uniquely talented young man, in a world gone mad, a world of commerce and mercantile deals. It is also the tale of a father-son relationship between two men who share the same passion, of how events tear them apart, and of how a love of the snow, and quite simply love itself, brings them back together again. The movie is a story of riders, the daring last action heroes who risk their lives for a beautiful run, for an ephemeral race carved out on the sheer, white face of a remote and isolated mountain.

     

    nOmber One is written by Hazanavicius, Stephane Dan, Mary-Noelle Dana, and Alexis Galmot, and will be directed by Hazanavicius.

     

    Principal photography is expected to start in February 2016 in France, and the film will also shoot extensively in March – April 2016 on the skiing slopes in the Himalayas in India.

  • Anil Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment to produce French movie

    Anil Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment to produce French movie

    MUMBAI: Anil D. Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment has inked an Indo-French partnership with Julie Gayet’s Rouge International, and Elisa Soussan’s myFamily, to produce Serge Hazanavicius’ French movie, nOmber One.

     

    Kev Adams, who has earlier been seen in movies like Les Profs 2 and Les Nouvelles Aventures d’Aladin, will play the lead role. 

     

    nOmber One tells the story of a quest, and of the ascension of a uniquely talented young man, in a world gone mad, a world of commerce and mercantile deals. It is also the tale of a father-son relationship between two men who share the same passion, of how events tear them apart, and of how a love of the snow, and quite simply love itself, brings them back together again. The movie is a story of riders, the daring last action heroes who risk their lives for a beautiful run, for an ephemeral race carved out on the sheer, white face of a remote and isolated mountain.

     

    nOmber One is written by Hazanavicius, Stephane Dan, Mary-Noelle Dana, and Alexis Galmot, and will be directed by Hazanavicius.

     

    Principal photography is expected to start in February 2016 in France, and the film will also shoot extensively in March – April 2016 on the skiing slopes in the Himalayas in India.

  • BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steven Moffat replaced by Chris Chibnall

    BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steven Moffat replaced by Chris Chibnall

    MUMBAI: After six series at the helm, the multi-award-winning Steven Moffat has decided to step down as the lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who.

     

    Moffat took over the reins on Series 5 in 2010 and during his tenure the show has become a truly global success. He has been responsible for introducing the eleventh and the twelfth doctors in Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi; as well as two companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) and iconic characters and monsters including River Song (Alex Kingston), Missy (Michelle Gomez), Rory Pond (Arthur Darvill) and the terrifying Weeping Angels.

     

    Additionally, the hit 50th Anniversary special in 2013, which saw fans around the world celebrate the world’s longest-running sci-fi series with the Doctors Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt battling the deadly Daleks in a feature-length episode. Steven’s final series will air on BBC One in spring 2017 and there will be a Christmas Special in 2016.

     

    Moffat says, “Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.”

     

    Like Moffat, Chibnall is also a lifelong Doctor Who fan and a multi-award-winning writer and executive producer. He has most recently achieved success with the triple-BAFTA-winning hit ITV seriesBroadchurch. His other credits include The Great Train Robbery, United, Law & Order: UK, Life On Mars and Torchwood. Chibnall’s debut series will launch in 2018.

     

    Chibnall says, “Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. So it’s a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore. Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who’s creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult.”

     

    BBC One controller Charlotte Moore adds, “I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has givenDoctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. I will be very sad to see him leave the show, but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 – I promise it will be worth the wait! I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.”

     

    BBC Drama Commissioning controller Polly Hill says, “Like Charlotte, I would like to thank Steven for his brilliance, which has made Doctor Who a global hit under his tenure. Chris Chibnall is the perfect successor to take over the reins of this incredible show, so I am delighted that his love for Doctor Who has made it impossible for him to resist! Chris is an incredible writer and his vision and passion for Doctor Who gives it an exciting future and promises to be a real treat for Doctor Who fans across the world.”

  • BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steven Moffat replaced by Chris Chibnall

    BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steven Moffat replaced by Chris Chibnall

    MUMBAI: After six series at the helm, the multi-award-winning Steven Moffat has decided to step down as the lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who.

     

    Moffat took over the reins on Series 5 in 2010 and during his tenure the show has become a truly global success. He has been responsible for introducing the eleventh and the twelfth doctors in Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi; as well as two companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) and iconic characters and monsters including River Song (Alex Kingston), Missy (Michelle Gomez), Rory Pond (Arthur Darvill) and the terrifying Weeping Angels.

     

    Additionally, the hit 50th Anniversary special in 2013, which saw fans around the world celebrate the world’s longest-running sci-fi series with the Doctors Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt battling the deadly Daleks in a feature-length episode. Steven’s final series will air on BBC One in spring 2017 and there will be a Christmas Special in 2016.

     

    Moffat says, “Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.”

     

    Like Moffat, Chibnall is also a lifelong Doctor Who fan and a multi-award-winning writer and executive producer. He has most recently achieved success with the triple-BAFTA-winning hit ITV seriesBroadchurch. His other credits include The Great Train Robbery, United, Law & Order: UK, Life On Mars and Torchwood. Chibnall’s debut series will launch in 2018.

     

    Chibnall says, “Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. So it’s a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore. Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who’s creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult.”

     

    BBC One controller Charlotte Moore adds, “I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has givenDoctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. I will be very sad to see him leave the show, but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 – I promise it will be worth the wait! I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.”

     

    BBC Drama Commissioning controller Polly Hill says, “Like Charlotte, I would like to thank Steven for his brilliance, which has made Doctor Who a global hit under his tenure. Chris Chibnall is the perfect successor to take over the reins of this incredible show, so I am delighted that his love for Doctor Who has made it impossible for him to resist! Chris is an incredible writer and his vision and passion for Doctor Who gives it an exciting future and promises to be a real treat for Doctor Who fans across the world.”