Starzplay, Pantaya, Fabula and Fremantle Re-Team on ‘The Shelter’ (EXCLUSIVE)

EXCLUSIVE: Starzplay, the international streaming service from Starz that is now in close to 60 countries, is joining forces with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) on a premium scripted series about the life and reign of Spain’s controversial former king Juan Carlos I.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterConstance Zimmer has joined the cast of the YA pilot “Shelter” at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Zimmer joins previously announced series lead Jaden Michael. “Shelter” hails from Amazon Studios and MGM International Television Productions.

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John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentChile’s Picardia Films, headed by director-producer Diego Rougier, has boarded “The White Room” (“La Habitación Blanca”), the next feature by Argentina’s Ana Piterbarg who caught international attention with Viggo Mortensen starrer “Everybody Has a Plan,” her 2012 feature debut distributed by Fox Intl.

Emilio Mayorga Mexico’s Cuevas de Altamira and Avanti Cinema and Argentina’s Gualicho Cine and Isla Bonita have joined forces to co-produce “Ángeles,” the latest feature from director-producer-writer Paula Markovitch, whose feature film debut, coming-of-age drama “The Prize,” won two Berlin Silver Bears in 2011.Cuevas de Altamira is Markovitch’s label.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentJust acquired by ViacomCBS from Warner Media, No. 1 Chilean broadcast network Chilevisión will be headed up by two of Latin America’s best-known TV executives: Darío Turovelzky and Juan Ignacio Vicente.Made Friday, the top management announcement sees Turovelzky expand his leadership role to oversee both Chilevisión and Argentina’s No.

Fremantle has completed its acquisition of 12 NENT Studios production labels in the Nordics for an undisclosed sum. The purchase, first announced in July, will see Fremantle take control of Strong Productions (Denmark); Grillfilms, Moskito Television and Production House (Finland); Monster, Novemberfilm, One Big Happy Family, Playroom, Rakett and Strix TV (Norway); and Balbua and Strix Television (Sweden).

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentFremantle has completed its previously announced acquisition of 12 production labels in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark from Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group).The RTL Group-owned “Got Talent” producer will use their new assets — 12 companies in all across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark — to form Fremantle Nordics.The Scandinavian NENT Group had its unscripted assets on the sales block since early 2020.

Global TV major Fremantle has promoted Andrea Scrosati to the role of CEO Continental Europe, giving him additional responsibility for Fremantle’s businesses in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Nordics, and Poland.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentFremantle has promoted Andrea Scrosati, expanding his current group COO role with the additional role of CEO for continental Europe, increasing the markets he will be in charge of within the growing RTL-owned production and distribution giant.Scrosati will continue reporting to Jennifer Mullin, who is Fremantle’s group CEO. He will now have the added responsibility for Fremantle’s businesses in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Nordics and Poland.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentBTF Media and Madrid-based IP management company TheMadMediaCo announced on Tuesday, as Iberseries Platino Industria geared up in Madrid, that they are teaming to co-develop and co-produce Argentine true crime non-fiction novel “Magnetized” (“Magnetizado”).In an instance which shows how IP deals are scaling up, the adaptation will be made across a range of media, formats and markets.

Naman Ramachandran Channel 4 and BBC alumna Babita Bahal is joining Fremantle in the newly created role of group head of diversity, equity and inclusion, reporting to group HR director Nicky Gray. Bahal was head of creative diversity at U.K.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentOrganized by the Cannes Festival and Market and Argentina’s INCAA film agency, this year’s Ventana Sur, the biggest film-TV event in Latin America, is rapidly gaining in critical mass.In one crucial development, INCAA president Luis Puenzo confirmed to Variety that Ventana Sur will coincide with the latest meetings of CAACI, the body of governmental audiovisual authorities in Ibero-America – Latin America, Spain and Portugal – and of its biggest

Jamie Lang Gabriela Sandoval, director and co-founder of Chilean production-distribution outfit Storyboard Media, and head of industry for the Santiago International Film Festival (SANFIC), was at this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival where her new Chilean label Cine Matriz struck deals with Nathalia Videla at Argentina’s Magma Cine and Griselda González at Be Revolution Pictures in Belgium on the company’s upcoming drama feature, “After Elena.” The companies join Storyboard Media on the

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJaden Michael has been cast in the lead role in the YA pilot based on the Harlan Coben novel “Shelter,” Variety has learned exclusively.“Shelter” hails from Amazon Studios and MGM International Television Productions. It tells the story of high school junior Mickey Bolitar (Michael) as he navigates his new life with a mom in rehab, a dead father, an annoying aunt, and a new school in New Jersey with a camel as its mascot.

Manori Ravindran International EditorAs it expands its global footprint, Lionsgate-backed streaming service Starzplay has snapped up exclusive rights to hit series “Outlander” in the U.K., Variety can reveal.The deal marks the first time the long-running Starz show, which will debut season 6 in early 2022, will be streamed on its home platform outside the U.S.“Outlander,” which shot in Scotland earlier this year, is one of the highest profile titles on Amazon Prime Video in the U.K., which

Ann-Marie Corvin As it forges ahead with expansion into Europe, Starzplay is on the hunt for “edgy” returning scripted series of between six and ten episodes and promises all its partners a decent cut of the IP, according to the platform’s strategy head Peter Tortorici.In his on-demand keynote at Conecta Fiction Friday, the former head of CBS and Telemundo laid out Starzplay’s content requirements as it makes its migration from cable channel to international streaming platform.The niche player,