Michael Bay’s Pandemic Thriller ‘Songbird’ Scores First Sale with Germany’s Leonine (EXCLUSIVE)

Eli Countryman editorIn today’s TV news roundup, Apple TV Plus released the trailer for new comedy series, “Ted Lasso,” and “Alex Rider” gets release dates in new territories, including the U.S. and Germany.“Alex Rider,” a coming-of-age spy thriller series, will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in Germany and Austria on Aug. 7 and on IMDb TV in the U.S.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerGravitas Ventures has obtained the North American rights Machine, a documentary about the rise of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning from I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead filmmaker Justin Krook.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorDiscovery has acquired the German free-to-air entertainment channel Tele5 from Leonine for an undisclosed fee.The deal also includes a “long-term” content agreement, which gives Discovery Germany access to Leonine’s library of fictional content.

Manori Ravindran International EditorDiscovery Germany has acquired general entertainment free-TV channel Tele 5 from Leonine.In addition, both groups have also struck a long-term licensing deal, allowing Discovery Germany to access Leonine’s library of scripted content.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorStarzplay has acquired the second season of Ramy Yousseff’s Golden Globe-winning comedy Ramy for the UK, Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. The streaming arm of U.S.

Dave McNary Film ReporterNicolas Cage thriller “Willy’s Wonderland” has sold to most international territories, including the U.K., Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany and Latin America, by Foresight Unlimited at the Cannes virtual market.Cage portrays an out-of-towner forced to clean a family entertainment center in exchange for having his car serviced after it breaks down.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerForesight Unlimited has announced key international territory sales for the Nicolas Cage-led thriller Willy’s Wonderland (working title), including U.K., Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany and Latin America. Directed by Kevin Lewis, the film follows The Janitor (Cage), an out-of-towner, who is forced to clean a family entertainment center in exchange for having his car serviced after it breaks down.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorAGC has closed a raft of Cannes virtual market deals on Nick Jonas-Laurence Fishburne action-thriller The Blacksmith.Sizeable pre-sales have closed in Germany & Switzerland (Constantin), France (Metropolitan), UK (Entertainment Film), Latin America (CDC & CVT), Russia (Paradise/MGN) and South Korea & Vietnam (Joy’N’Content).Pacts have also been sealed with Benelux (The Searchers), Greece (Odeon), Middle East (Salim Raima), Eastern Europe (Prorom), Asian Pay TV

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentStarring actor-singer-songwriter Nick Jonas and Laurence Fishburne, action thriller “The Blacksmith,” which is financed and produced by AGC Studios, has become the first major new U.S.

Like Bavaria's heraldic lions from which it takes its name, Leonine got off to a roaring start. The would-be German mini-major, launched last year with a nine-figure war chest from its owners, New York investment firm KKR, quickly grew from cub to king of the jungle with a series of choice acquisitions, including film and TV powerhouse Tele München Group, indie film distributor Universum, Dark producer Wiedemann & Berg and local small-screen production outfit i&u TV.