BBC Buys Viaplay’s ‘Rebus’ Reboot Ahead Of Scandi Streamer’s UK Exit; Australia’s SBS Also Boards Scottish Crime Drama

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent AMC’s streaming service Acorn TV has bought “The Truth,” a crime thriller series co-written by Daphna Levin (“Euphoria”) and Aurit Zamir (“Babysitter”). Sold by About Premium Content, the series was picked up by Acorn TV for the U.S., the U.K. and Australia/New Zealand.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent In one of the most anticipated keynotes at Series Mania Festival, JB Perrette, president/CEO of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Discovery, dropped the launch date for Max across the first nine European countries on May 21.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Arte has boarded “Reykjavik Fusion,” the first series produced by ACT4, an Icelandic banner launched by award-winning industry veterans, including Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (“True Detective”), Hörður Rúnarsson (“Black Sands”), Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson (“The Minister”) and Birkir Blær Ingólfsson (“Thin Ice”). The high-concept show will be distributed internationally by Wild Sheep Content, led by Erik Barmack, a former Netflix head of international.

The BBC has acquired Suits, the smash legal drama that was the most-watched show on Netflix last year.

EXCLUSIVE: Bridgerton star Shelley Conn has boarded Beta Film thriller series Wisting‘s third season.

Bethenny Frankel is enjoying her time Down Under with her 13-year-old daughter Bryn, but fans back home are asking her to tone it down! Like, WAY down!

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the broadcaster, has acquired Spanish producer Brutal Media. Founded in 2009, Brutal Media’s credits include the recently announced original miniseries for Netflix, “Asalto Al Banco Central,” “The Academy” (Sony Pictures Television), “Vintage” (3cat), film “Killer Book Club” (Netflix), series “Welcome to Eden” (Netflix) and “The Hockey Girls” (Netflix, 3Cat), documentaries “The End of the Storm” (Sky TV, Liverpool FC) and “Murder by the Coast” (Netflix) and romantic comedy “I Love You Stupid” (Netflix).

Sony’s $100M sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife— Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire— is looking at an opening at $45M, give or take. The previous installment, released during the pandemic in 2021, which was directed by Jason Reitman and produced by the late Ghostbusters filmmaker Ivan Reitman, opened to $44M and legged out to $129M domestic. Currently through four movies the Ghostbusters franchise stands at $945.2M; the fifth title will easily put the brand past the $1 billion mark if not this weekend, shortly thereafter.

BBC Studios has acquired Werner Film Productions, the company behind Australian drama hit The Newsreader.

The Prince of Wales looked smart in a tuxedo as he arrived at the Science Museum in London this evening (Thursday, 14 March) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Diana Legacy Award and present the prizes to 20 lucky winners. Prince Harry will also appear at the event via video call from Montecito and will congratulate this year's inspirational winners.The Diana Award was created to keep Diana, Princess of Wales' belief alive that young people can make the world a better place.

EXCLUSIVE: Zosia Mamet (Girls, The Flight Attendant), Michael Angarano (Oppenheimer, This Is Us) and Tommy Martinez (Good Trouble) have been cast in Peacock’s upcoming comedy series Laid as series regulars. Mamet will play AJ, Angarano will play Richie and Martinez will play Isaac.

Strictly Come Dancing fans have spotted Dianne Buswell's link to two of her former celebrity partners as she was seen reuniting with some familiar faces. The dancer was seen beaming alongside Bobby Brazier as they were reunited weeks after finishing life on the road together.

Death in Paradise fans are convinced they’ve worked out Neville Parker’s replacement.

A skid row hotel best known for its grisly Netflix true crime examination of a young woman’s mysterious death is now for sale.

A+E Networks has signed a development deal with Reese Witherspoon‘s Hello Sunshine for lifestyle series which will air as part of A+E’s Home.Made.Nation multi-platform content hub. The first series from the partnership will be Country House Hunters, a co-production between Hello Sunshine and Abode Entertainment, which will premiere in the summer of 2024 on A&E.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. After cancelling his remaining concerts for 2023 due to health issues, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will finally hit the road again this month. The new dates come in two clumps — a month-long swing taking place in mid-March through mid-April, followed by a second month’s worth of shows in mid-August through mid-September.

EXCLUSIVE: Beta Film has picked up distribution rights to French thriller Homejacking, which is co-created by Lupin writer Tigran Rosine, and will launch sales at Series Mania.

A beach on a stunning Scottish island has been named the third best in the world by top travel experts.

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios has bought British broadcaster ITV‘s 50% stake in streamer BritBox International for £255 million ($322 million), the companies revealed on Friday. The streamer was founded in 2017 as a joint venture between BBC Studios, which is the commercial arm of the British broadcaster, and ITV. “The transaction will provide net proceeds including loan repayments and accrued dividends and after tax of around £235 million,” the companies said.

The Jonas Brothers have arrived Down Under!