Global Bulletin: ZDF Enterprises Greenlights ‘Puzzle Lady’ Mystery Series

Jake Kanter International TV EditorBilly Leroy, the star of Travel Channel’s Baggage Battles, is to front a global series for Discovery in which he opens a vintage, antiques, and collectibles store in Brooklyn, New York.Billy Buys Brooklyn (working title) is produced by MY Entertainment and will stream on dplay, as well as play on linear channels including DMAX UK, Italy, Spain and Germany, and Discovery Channel US and Europe.The show follows Leroy as he opens Billy’s Antiques & Props and uses

Tom Grater International Film ReporterEXCLUSIVE: HBO Max has struck a deal for world rights to Valley Of Tears, Israel’s biggest-budget TV series ever made, in a major deal for London-based sales and production org WestEnd Films.The show marks WestEnd’s first foray into TV, through its banner WeSeries.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorFremantle has promoted Christian Vesper to president of global drama following the departure of Sarah Doole in August.Vesper, SundanceTV’s former drama chief, will take charge of a slate of shows that includes Luca Guadagnino’s We Are Who We Are, American Gods, and The Salisbury Poisonings.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentChristian Vesper has been promoted to president of global drama at Fremantle, the production and distribution powerhouse behind hit dramas such as Luca Guadagnino’s “We Are Who We Are,” “American Gods,” and the BBC’s “The Salisbury Poisonings.” Vesper takes on this new role following the departure of Sarah Doole, the former London-based director of global drama, who now leads Studiocanal’s Red production company.

Hailey Bieber and Stephen Baldwin are at opposing ends of the political spectrum.

Tom Grater, Nancy Tartaglione Focus Features has struck a deal for Wolf, an Irish drama starring George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp. The Screen Ireland-backed picture recently wrapped after a COVID-19-safe shoot.

ZDF Enterprises, the highly active international production and sales arm of German public broadcaster ZDF, has sealed a major multi-territory deal with Viasat World’s Epic Drama channel on “Dead Still,” continuing the macabre dramedic mystery series’ rollout in much of the world.Backed by U.S.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorDisney APAC Boss Uday Shankar Quits Uday Shankar, president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and chairman, Star & Disney India, is to step down at the end of 2020 after less than two years in the role. Shankar said he intends to pursue new entrepreneurial opportunities to “give back to the country.” Before stepping down, he will work with Rebecca Campbell, chair of Disney’s direct-to-consumer and international segment, to identify a successor.

Amanda Kloots has received an outpouring of support after slamming Donald Trump for telling Americans not to “be afraid” of coronavirus. Hailey Baldwin re-posted Amanda’s message on her Instagram Story, as did Maren Morris, who added, “Your words are so powerful and necessary. I’m so sorry for your loss.” On Twitter, Laura Benanti wrote, “I’m not surprised by the ‘President’s callous and disgusting selfishness, but I’m still horrified.

Saturday Night Live returned for its 46th season with a cold open satirising the recent US presidential debate.In front of a limited live audience, Carrey debuted his comedy performance of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden – following SNL colleagues Woody Harrelson and Jason Sudeikis, who have both previously played the former vice-president – while Alec Baldwin revisited his popular rendition of Donald Trump.The skit included a reference to Trump and the First Lady’s recent coronavirus

Naman Ramachandran CAA Media Finance is representing worldwide distribution rights to “India Sweets and Spices,” produced by SK Global (“Crazy Rich Asians”) and Madison Wells (“Genius”).The film is directed by Geeta Malik (“Troublemaker”) and is based on her own script “Dinner With Friends” that won the 2016 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in screenwriting.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global bulletin, Cineflix Rights sells three series to Topic in North America, Paco Cabezas is picked to direct “The Gypsy Bride” in Spain, “The Investigation” premieres to year’s-best ratings in Denmark and Planet Nemo by Ankama sells two series to Discovery Kids in MENA.Cineflix Rights, the U.K.’s largest independent TV content distributor, has signed a deal with First Look Media’s platform Topic, sending three series to the North American streamer: “The Minister,” “Happ

Manori Ravindran International EditorRainmaker Content has picked up worldwide distribution rights from German studio Leonine for Brendan Fraser-starring action series “Professionals.” The project, which was completed during the global pandemic, will be shopped to buyers at next month’s virtual Mipcom market.Commissioned by Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) for streamer Viaplay, the cast includes Fraser (“Trust”), Tom Welling (“Smallville”), Elena Anaya (“Wonder Woman”), Saïd Taghmaoui

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios sells Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe”; ZDF commissions natural history series “Africa From Above”; “Married at First Sight” gets live wedding; ITV orders game-show format “Game of Talents”; travel format “Heads and Tails” goes to Spain; Jellyfish promotes Natalie Llewellyn; German Film Office opens in New York; and Monte-Carlo TV Festival sets 2021 dates.BBC Studios has secured several global pre-sales for Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen‘

Andreas Wiseman International EditorThe first two episodes of Sky’s Euro series Romulus, about the events that led to the foundation of Rome, will launch at the Rome Film Festival next month. Produced by Sky, Cattleya and Groenlandia, the show comes from director Matteo Rovere, marking his TV debut, and will star Andrea Arcangeli, Marianna Fontana and Francesco Di Napoli.

Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – however in the case of Hollywood and Donald Trump, it is certainly not the case.

Dynamites exploded on Monday and painted the social media purple after Billboard announced the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. US charts.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Fremantle passes 130 territories sold for Samuel L. Jackson’s “Enslaved,” Lineup Industries is set to license NHK’s formats slate, Red Sea International awards more than $1 million in grants, and Walter Presents nabs five Nordic series.Samuel L. Jackson’s Epix docuseries “Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade” will air in 130 territories after Fremantle closed deals including France’s Histoire TV, History in Germany and Movistar Plus

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A teenage singer from Lebanon this week became the latest to join a global pop band formed by Simon Fuller, the man behind the Spice Girls and “American Idol,” which aims to transform young unknowns into internet superstars.That may seem a grandiose ambition during a global pandemic.