‘Narcos’ Producer Gaumont Developing TV Adaptation Of ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorEXCLUSIVE: We hear that Sam Raimi is producing a new supernatural horror feature, one which British Independent Film Award winning filmmaker Rob Savage will direct. The feature, written by Micah Ranum, is set in one location.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterAlthough the COVID-19 outbreak has not yet completed its lethal sweep, the U.K.’s public broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation is aiming to tell “the definitive story of the coronavirus pandemic in Britain.”The broadcaster has commissioned its own BBC Studios Documentary Unit to deliver a feature-length documentary “Britain vs Coronavirus.”“Interweaving archive and compelling master interviews with many of the key decision-makers in the crisis, the

Thandie Newton is explaining why she passed on a major film role In a new profile for , the 47-year-old biracial British actress opens up about the sexism and racism she's faced in Hollywood, including an audition she had for the 2000 hit action film . «One of the biggest movies I didn’t end up doing was because the director said to me, 'I can’t wait for this.

Peter White Television EditorEXCLUSIVE: Gaumont, the production company behind series including Netflix’s Narcos and Apple TV+’s Stillwater, is shaking up its U.S. division with Nicolas Atlan taking over and Gene Stein exiting.The French company has handed oversight of its U.S.

Comcast-owned pay TV giant Sky has taken full ownership of Love Productions, the production banner behind hit show The Great British Bake Off.‎ Sky had owned a 70 percent stake in the company since 2014. Love mentioned in a regulatory filing that Sky acquired the remaining stake in late February.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentEuropean pay TV operator Sky has taken 100% ownership of Love Productions, the producer behind “The Great British Bake Off.” Sky previously owned a 70% stake in the company, founded by Richard McKerrow.Jane Millichip, Sky Studios’ chief commercial officer, said: “Love Productions is a world-class production company that has continued to create popular, thought-provoking and award-winning factual and factual entertainment shows since Sky first

Jake Kanter International TV EditorViacomCBS’s UK network has announced that it will work with seven BAME-owned production companies on new shows following the launch of its diverse indie initiative last September.The initiative worked with the TV Collective to match black, Asian and minority ethnic-run producers with Channel 5 commissioners to develop ideas.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorSony Pictures Television has confirmed what we revealed back in April — that it is investing in Eleven, the British production outfit behind Netflix smash hit Sex Education.Sony has taken a majority stake in Eleven after a competitive process in which a host of potential suitors showed an interest in the producer, including All3Media.

Peter White Television EditorÉric Rochant, the creator of breakout French spy drama The Bureau, is prepping his U.S.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentÉric Rochant, super-producer and creator behind the hit French spy drama “The Bureau,” is set to team with Tomorrow Studios (“Snowpiercer,” “Cowboy Bebop”) on his U.S. television debut.Rochant will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the untitled espionnage series, which will center on the lives of intelligence officers from different countries (U.S., China, Russia, U.K.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorNBCUniversal International Studios’ UK production outfit Monkey Kingdom has signed a development deal with educational YouTuber MC Grammar.Monkey will work with school teacher Jacob Mitchell to create animated and live-action content after he went viral for rapping children’s book The Gruffalo and later appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.Represented by Encanta Talent Management, MC Grammar teams learning with music and broadcasts live weekly sessions on his

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorE! is expanding its programming slate with new celeb-focused series Celebrity Call Center, based on the UK series, and executive produced by Nick Cannon, and 10 Things You Don’t Know from Jupiter Entertainment, both for premiere this summer, along with plastic surgery series Dr. 90210, from Entertainment One, for debut this fall.

Peter White Television EditorEpix is signed up to British fantasy drama Britannia.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorEXCLUSIVE: Germany is widely regarded as a country that has dealt with the coronavirus crisis well. A six-week lockdown and a sophisticated track and trace system have kept the nation’s excess death rate among the lowest in Europe, while Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ratings have surged during the pandemic.German producers have faced the same issues as counterparts in the UK and the U.S.

Peter White Television EditorEXCLUSIVE: Imagine a world where humans lose the capacity to store long-term recollections and instead are issued a government memory chip.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: Rising actress Odessa Young (Assassination Nation), BAFTA-nominee Josh O’Connor (The Crown), Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite) and Oscar-winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) are set to star in drama Mothering Sunday for Carol producers Number 9 Films.The blue chip period-drama becomes one of the hottest UK projects at the Cannes virtual market where Rocket Science is launching world sales.Eva Husson (Girls Of The Sun) will direct from

Arca’s fourth studio album ‘KiCk i’, is a delectable declaration of her new gender expression.

Peter White Television EditorEXCLUSIVE: The Gurin Company, run by Phil Gurin, whose credits include exec producing ABC’s Shark Tank, and rising British producer Strawberry Blond have teamed up to co-develop formats in the U.S.

Peter White Television EditorLil Rel Howery, who starred in Jordan Peele’s horror feature Get Out, is to host NBC’s adaptation of British gameshow Small Fortune.The actor and comedian will also serve as exec producer on the format, which is set to go into production later this year.The show, which was created by British production company Youngest Media for ITV, offers contestants the opportunity to amass large sums of money on the smallest of scales.Small Fortune will see teams of three friends