Fremantle Launches Premium Docs Label

EXCLUSIVE: Fremantle HR boss Nicky Gray is exiting the Got Talent and Normal People super-indie after more than two decades.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Andrea Scrosati, who is group COO and continental Europe CEO of Fremantle, isn’t too worried about various types of turbulence that are currently creating anxiety in the U.S. media market such as draconian cost cuts being made by juggernaut groups and the impending prospect of a Writers Guild of America strike. Speaking in Italy at a panel titled “Less is More – What to Do When the Streaming Boom is Over” Scrosati noted that the effect of market consolidation in the U.S. and fear due to plunging stock market results that is prompting cost cuts at Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery certainly means that “some of the big buyers are in a conflict.”

The story of the last months of Saddam Hussein’s life is to be told via a feature film from Fremantle and Sinestra.

Naman Ramachandran Fremantle and Sinestra, the production outfit from director Johan Renck and producer Michael Parets, are in development on feature film “The Prisoner in His Palace.” The film will be based on Will Bardenwerper’s bestselling book “The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid” that tells the story of 12 U.S. soldiers who guarded Saddam Hussein in the months leading up to his execution. It explores the two distinct sides of Saddam Hussein: the cruel tyrant who uses torture and murder as tools and the contemplative prisoner who exhibits surprising affection, dignity, and courage in the face of death. The book delves into the guards’ experiences and shows how Saddam’s presence affected them on a personal level.

Another year, another super-expensive TV series to premiere on Prime Video. And while the $250 million budget for “Citadel” isn’t as costly as “The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power,” it indicates that Amazon wants its new spy thriller to be another juggernaut for its streamer.

David Cronenberg’s 1988 thriller, “Dead Ringers,” starring Jeremy Irons, isn’t in most Top 3 lists for the filmmaker. Sure, there are fans of the original, but it doesn’t have the devoted fanbase as films such as “The Fly,” “Crash,” “Scanners,” and “A History of Violence,” for example.

Maite Perroni and Andres Tovar are getting ready to welcome their baby. This past weekend the couple hosted their baby shower, inviting multiple friends and family members for the lovely occasion. RBD set to release a new single, on February 23rdAlfonso Herrera invites RBD to his new film premiereA post shared by Rocío Sánchez Azuara (@rocio_sazuara)The event was organized by Rocio Sazuara, with Perroni sharing an Instagram story thanking her for the gorgeous afternoon.

Marco Tombolini is now sole CEO of Fremantle Italy after Gabriele Immirzi moved to Lorenzo Mielio’s drama house The Apartment Pictures.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Fremantle is restructuring management of its Italian operations by promoting Marco Tombolini to the role of CEO Fremantle Italy. Tombolini, who since May of 2022 was Fremantle Italy co-CEO, will now “Take the helm of all areas and functions of the company, with the senior management of Fremantle Italy reporting directly to him,” a Fremantle statement said. Gabriele Immirzi – who had long served as Fremantle Italy CEO prior to sharing the CEO role with Tombolini since last May – has now stepped down but is staying in the Fremantle fold becoming co-CEO with Lorenzo Mieli of The Apartment Pictures.

A dramatization of the life of Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan/Renault CEO who escaped from arrest hidden in a music case, is in the works from Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuarón and This England’s Michael Winterbottom.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Fremantle has acquired a majority stake in Belgium’s A Team Productions the indie outfit behind hit drug gang drama “Patsers” by directorial duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and standout short “ “Baghdad Messi.”  The company, which was founded in 2009, is headed by Kobe van Steenberghe and Hendrik Verthé and scored its first major international in 2011 with the short “Land of the Heroes” which won the International Jury Prize at the Berlinale that year. They are also behind short “Baghdad Messi,” by Belgium-based Kurdish director Sahim Omar Kalifa, which won prizes at dozens of international fests and was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2014.

Fremantle Acquires Majority Stake In Belguim’s A Team ProductionsFremantle has acquired a majority stake in A Team Productions (ATP). Based in Belgium, A Team Productions was founded in 2009 and is led by Kobe van Steenberghe and Hendrik Verthé. The company is behind the 2011 short film Land of the Heroes, which won the International Jury Prize at Berlin in 2011. A Team also produced the short Baghdad Messi, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2014. Other credits from the outfit include Patser (Gangsta) by filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. Later this year, A Team will release the feature-length film Baghdad Messi and the high-end fiction series Alter Ego. “I have long admired Kobe, Hendrik, and the whole ATP team’s work,” said Dave Heuten, CEO Fremantle Belgium. “I am excited to be going on this journey with them, finding synergies and developing new content together – I can’t wait to work with this brilliant team and achieve great things together.”

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Fremantle’s Documentaries division has launched Undeniable, a label dedicated to producing premium feature documentaries and series, in partnership with high-profile talent and international commissioners, Mandy Chang, Fremantle’s global head of documentaries, revealed Tuesday at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen. The label is already developing several international projects and partnerships with high-profile filmmakers, including Amy Berg (“Deliver Us From Evil,” “Phoenix Rising”), Chris Smith (“Tiger King,” “Bad Vegan”), and Penny Lane and Gabriel Sedgwick (“Hail Satan?,” “Listening to Kenny G”). Chang said: “The launch of Undeniable further underlines our commitment and ambition to build Fremantle’s documentary output on the premium side. Working with the very best filmmakers and emerging talent, the label will provide editorial and production expertise and support in multiple genres. Importantly, it will provide a platform and freedom for creative talent to unlock and explore important issues and stories to be told.”

Top International execs from ZDF Studios, Fremantle, All3Media and Banijay have said the potential U.S. writers strike and changing market economics can create opportunities to strike new business.

All good things must come to an end, and that’s what’s happening with Prime Video’s Emmy-winning comedy series, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” As seen in the trailer for Season 5 of “The Marvelous Mrs.

Australian actor Peter Hardy shared some 'reasons to be cheerful' online just an hour before his sudden death while snorkeling at a West Australian beach.  The 66-year-old was pulled unresponsive from the water at about 10. 40am at  Fremantle's South Beach on Thursday, shortly after sharing a series of photos online.

The Power, the new Prime Video sci-fi drama based on Naomi Alderman's best-selling novel, follows a group of teenage girls from all across the globe who suddenly develop the power to electrocute people at will. As they navigate their new reality, the teens begin to embrace their newfound powers to shift the power balance of the world.ET exclusively debuts the electric opening scene from the nine-episode first season, which drops March 31, setting the table for what's to come.«We never dared to imagine it,» Toni Collette's Mayor Margot Cleary-Lopez narrates.

Good afternoon Insiders, here we are again and it’s Max Goldbart helming a busy week’s newsletter. Scroll down for the biggest news and analysis from team Deadline International, and sign up to the newsletter here.

Fremantle’s revenues rose 21% to €2.3B ($2.44B) and profits were up 15% last year as the super-indie inches toward its target to hit €3B ($3.2B) turnover by 2025.

EXCLUSIVE: Hasbro has narrowed down the field for its eOne subsidiary to a handful of suitors, sources tell Deadline. We hear fellow indie studios Lionsgate, Fremantle and Legendary (with Apollo) are in the running to acquire a majority stake in eOne. We hear there also may be 1-2 additional bids from private equity players; Hasbro previously sold eOne’s music business to private equity firm Blackstone in 2021 for $385 million. (Blackstone and company-backed Candle Media are not believed to be in the mix for eOne.) A reps for Hasbro said that the company has no update at this time; Fremantle, Lionsgate and Legendary had no comment.