Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch will be joined by Úrsula Corberó, known for her role as Tokyo in Netflix hit Money Heist, Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, The Crown) and Richard Dormer (Fortitude, Game of Thrones) in the upcoming TV adaptation of The Day of the Jackal for Sky and Peacock.
Corberó will play Nuria, “someone at the heart of The Jackal’s personal life, entirely unaware of who he truly is,” while Dance will feature as Timothy Winthrop, and Dormer will play a character called Norman.
Also joining the cast are Chukwudi Iwuji (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Split) as Osita Halcrow, Lia Williams (The Capture, The Crown) as Isabel Kirby, Khalid Abdalla (The Crown, The Kite Runner) as Ulle Dag Charles, Eleanor Matsuura (The Walking Dead, I Used To Be Famous) as Zina Jansone, Jonjo O’Neill (Andor, Bad Sisters) as Edward Carver, and Sule Rimi (Classified, Andor) as Paul Pullman.
Corberó will play Nuria, “someone at the heart of The Jackal’s personal life, entirely unaware of who he truly is,” while Dance will feature as Timothy Winthrop, and Dormer will play a character called Norman.
Also joining the cast are Chukwudi Iwuji (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Split) as Osita Halcrow, Lia Williams (The Capture, The Crown) as Isabel Kirby, Khalid Abdalla (The Crown, The Kite Runner) as Ulle Dag Charles, Eleanor Matsuura (The Walking Dead, I Used To Be Famous) as Zina Jansone, Jonjo O’Neill (Andor, Bad Sisters) as Edward Carver, and Sule Rimi (Classified, Andor) as Paul Pullman.
- 2/23/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sky U.K., part of Comcast-owned European media and technology giant Sky, touted its programming slate for the year at its annual “Up Next” event at Protein Studios in Shoreditch, London on Thursday evening, with Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer, lauding a “fantastic lineup for 2024.”
Sky has continued to double down on original content under Comcast’s ownership. “2024 is a year where you really see the results of the investments,” Frot-Coutaz said, touting “the level of ambition.” “It’s really now paying off, and that’s the case across all genres.”
She mentioned such upcoming shows as Mary & George, starring Julianne Moore, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, starring Harvey Keitel, and The Day of the Jackal, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, as well as the upcoming film Lee, which tells the story of Lee Miller, a former-model-turned-war-photographer. Kate Winslet stars in it and also serves as a producer.
Sky has continued to double down on original content under Comcast’s ownership. “2024 is a year where you really see the results of the investments,” Frot-Coutaz said, touting “the level of ambition.” “It’s really now paying off, and that’s the case across all genres.”
She mentioned such upcoming shows as Mary & George, starring Julianne Moore, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, starring Harvey Keitel, and The Day of the Jackal, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, as well as the upcoming film Lee, which tells the story of Lee Miller, a former-model-turned-war-photographer. Kate Winslet stars in it and also serves as a producer.
- 2/23/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Am I Being Unreasonable?’ Producer’s Development Boss Joins Sky
The Head of Development at Am I Being Unreasonable? producer Boffola Pictures is joining Sky Studios next month. Emily Allen will become Commissioning Executive for Comedy within Alex Moody’s Sky Studios comedy commissioning team and will have responsibility for ordering Sky original comedies from indies. She will join from Boffola Pictures, the indie run by former BBC comedy heads Shane Allen and Kate Daughton that produces BAFTA-winning Daisy May Cooper show Am I Being Unreasonable?. Prior to Boffola, she worked in the BBC comedy team. Sky original comedies launching in 2024 include Mr Bigstuff, which stars Danny Dyer, and comedy-drama Small Town, Big Story, written and directed by Chris O’Dowd, and starring Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine. Brassic will also return for a sixth season. The news comes a few days after Sky Studios slimmed down its structure by unifying...
The Head of Development at Am I Being Unreasonable? producer Boffola Pictures is joining Sky Studios next month. Emily Allen will become Commissioning Executive for Comedy within Alex Moody’s Sky Studios comedy commissioning team and will have responsibility for ordering Sky original comedies from indies. She will join from Boffola Pictures, the indie run by former BBC comedy heads Shane Allen and Kate Daughton that produces BAFTA-winning Daisy May Cooper show Am I Being Unreasonable?. Prior to Boffola, she worked in the BBC comedy team. Sky original comedies launching in 2024 include Mr Bigstuff, which stars Danny Dyer, and comedy-drama Small Town, Big Story, written and directed by Chris O’Dowd, and starring Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine. Brassic will also return for a sixth season. The news comes a few days after Sky Studios slimmed down its structure by unifying...
- 2/12/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Sky is bringing its studios and content divisions together under Cécile Frot-Coutaz.
Frot-Coutaz, who joined the Comcast-owned outfit nearly three years ago, has been promoted and will take on an expanded role as CEO of Sky Studios and Chief Content Officer.
She will lead all of Sky’s content business excluding sport while continuing to helm studios. Sky’s UK and Ireland content teams plus Sky News across Europe will report to Frot-Coutaz, including the likes of Content MD Zai Bennett.
The move comes several weeks after Sky revealed UK and Ireland CEO Stephen van Rooyen would be stepping down at the end of February, leaving Sky’s operations in those countries to report directly to CEO Dana Strong.
Projects currently in development will not be impacted by the changes, we understand, and no layoffs will follow.
Meghan Lyvers will continue to oversee original series for Sky Studios, with...
Frot-Coutaz, who joined the Comcast-owned outfit nearly three years ago, has been promoted and will take on an expanded role as CEO of Sky Studios and Chief Content Officer.
She will lead all of Sky’s content business excluding sport while continuing to helm studios. Sky’s UK and Ireland content teams plus Sky News across Europe will report to Frot-Coutaz, including the likes of Content MD Zai Bennett.
The move comes several weeks after Sky revealed UK and Ireland CEO Stephen van Rooyen would be stepping down at the end of February, leaving Sky’s operations in those countries to report directly to CEO Dana Strong.
Projects currently in development will not be impacted by the changes, we understand, and no layoffs will follow.
Meghan Lyvers will continue to oversee original series for Sky Studios, with...
- 2/8/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast-owned European media and telecommunications giant Sky is bringing all of its non-sports content teams in the U.K. and Ireland under one leadership structure, led by Cécile Frot-Coutaz.
Currently CEO of Sky Studios, she will add the chief content officer title, expanding her role to lead all parts of Sky’s content business in the U.K. and Ireland, excluding sports, “with Sky’s U.K. and Ireland content business reporting to her as well as Sky News Group across Europe,” the company said. Frot-Coutaz’s new title will be CEO Sky Studios and chief content officer.
Zai Bennett, managing director of content for Sky U.K. and Ireland, remains responsible for Sky’s output and performance in the countries, “leading Sky Entertainment, Sky Cinema and Sky Kids, along with commissioning for factual, entertainment, arts, kids and film as well as acquisitions across Sky Group,” the company said. “As part of the change,...
Currently CEO of Sky Studios, she will add the chief content officer title, expanding her role to lead all parts of Sky’s content business in the U.K. and Ireland, excluding sports, “with Sky’s U.K. and Ireland content business reporting to her as well as Sky News Group across Europe,” the company said. Frot-Coutaz’s new title will be CEO Sky Studios and chief content officer.
Zai Bennett, managing director of content for Sky U.K. and Ireland, remains responsible for Sky’s output and performance in the countries, “leading Sky Entertainment, Sky Cinema and Sky Kids, along with commissioning for factual, entertainment, arts, kids and film as well as acquisitions across Sky Group,” the company said. “As part of the change,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz is expanding her role to extend across the Comcast-owned media group’s entire U.K. and Ireland content business outside of sports. Her new title will be CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer.
Zai Bennett, MD of content for Sky U.K. and Ireland, will now report to Frot-Coutaz, who joined Sky in 2021 after leadership stints at Fremantle and YouTube.
Bennett previously reported to Stephen van Rooyen, Sky CEO for U.K. and Ireland, who departs the company this month after 17 years in the job. Bennett will remain responsible for output and performance. His role includes overseeing commissions, acquisitions across the group and managing the Sky Entertainment, Sky Cinema and Sky Kids brands.
Frot-Coutaz already looked after Sky’s comedy and drama across Europe as part of her remit. She will now also lead on U.K. and Ireland content as well as Sky News across Europe,...
Zai Bennett, MD of content for Sky U.K. and Ireland, will now report to Frot-Coutaz, who joined Sky in 2021 after leadership stints at Fremantle and YouTube.
Bennett previously reported to Stephen van Rooyen, Sky CEO for U.K. and Ireland, who departs the company this month after 17 years in the job. Bennett will remain responsible for output and performance. His role includes overseeing commissions, acquisitions across the group and managing the Sky Entertainment, Sky Cinema and Sky Kids brands.
Frot-Coutaz already looked after Sky’s comedy and drama across Europe as part of her remit. She will now also lead on U.K. and Ireland content as well as Sky News across Europe,...
- 2/8/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Sky News, a division of Comcast-owned European media and technology giant Sky, wants its coverage to “set an agenda, not present one,” David Rhodes, executive chairman of the Sky News Group, said in London on Tuesday evening.
Speaking during a Sky News showcase at Somerset House in central London, he talked about the news brand’s approach. The event took place at a time when Sky News is preparing for what it has called “a pivotal year for U.K. and U.S. politics,” given big elections in both countries.
Rhodes also described Sky News’ goals as “challenging the powerful in equal measure, challenging the status quo” and being “an insurgent brand.”
He also promised that “we’ll be investing in our political coverage,” mentioning the weeknight 7-8 p.m. show Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge as an example. “We started the Politics Hub on television, it had been a digital brand.
Speaking during a Sky News showcase at Somerset House in central London, he talked about the news brand’s approach. The event took place at a time when Sky News is preparing for what it has called “a pivotal year for U.K. and U.S. politics,” given big elections in both countries.
Rhodes also described Sky News’ goals as “challenging the powerful in equal measure, challenging the status quo” and being “an insurgent brand.”
He also promised that “we’ll be investing in our political coverage,” mentioning the weeknight 7-8 p.m. show Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge as an example. “We started the Politics Hub on television, it had been a digital brand.
- 9/13/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sky Deutschland will no longer make scripted shows from next year and is closing its scripted arm.
The Das Boot, Babylon Berlin and Munich Games network will “halt production of new scripted Sky Originals from 2024 onwards,” according to a note from Sky Deutschland boss Devesh Raj this morning, which said shows in production will be completed.
The Sky Deutschland scripted originals team is expected to be closed once these shows have been delivered.
Raj’s note said “the cost of producing scripted content has continued to rise, in part driven by the emergence of myriad new streaming providers, making it harder for drama series to cut through.”
He added that the decision had “not been taken lightly and does not come without an impact to our people and, today, all colleagues in Sky Studios Deutschland who are impacted were informed.”
Sky will continue making shows in other markets such as the UK and Italy.
The Das Boot, Babylon Berlin and Munich Games network will “halt production of new scripted Sky Originals from 2024 onwards,” according to a note from Sky Deutschland boss Devesh Raj this morning, which said shows in production will be completed.
The Sky Deutschland scripted originals team is expected to be closed once these shows have been delivered.
Raj’s note said “the cost of producing scripted content has continued to rise, in part driven by the emergence of myriad new streaming providers, making it harder for drama series to cut through.”
He added that the decision had “not been taken lightly and does not come without an impact to our people and, today, all colleagues in Sky Studios Deutschland who are impacted were informed.”
Sky will continue making shows in other markets such as the UK and Italy.
- 6/29/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Babylon Berlin’ Broadcaster Sky Deutschland to Pull Out of Scripted Originals From 2024 (Exclusive)
Sky Deutschland, the German arm of Comcast-owned pay-tv operator Sky, is pulling out of scripted originals from 2024, Variety can reveal.
Staff were notified of the surprise move by Sky Deutschland boss Devesh Raj on Thursday morning, local time. Variety understands that the entire scripted originals team will eventually be disbanded, though shows that have already been commissioned and are in production, such as post-apocalypse drama “Helgoland 513″ and “Das Boot” Season 4, will finish filming. Any projects in development will be “put into turnaround,” as per another internal note from Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz, also seen by Variety.
The most high-profile casualty of the strategy shift will undoubtedly be period police thriller “Babylon Berlin,” which is critically acclaimed and aired its fourth season in the fall. Fans have been expecting a fifth season, but Variety understands that the neo-noir — which isn’t currently in production — has been canceled by Sky...
Staff were notified of the surprise move by Sky Deutschland boss Devesh Raj on Thursday morning, local time. Variety understands that the entire scripted originals team will eventually be disbanded, though shows that have already been commissioned and are in production, such as post-apocalypse drama “Helgoland 513″ and “Das Boot” Season 4, will finish filming. Any projects in development will be “put into turnaround,” as per another internal note from Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz, also seen by Variety.
The most high-profile casualty of the strategy shift will undoubtedly be period police thriller “Babylon Berlin,” which is critically acclaimed and aired its fourth season in the fall. Fans have been expecting a fifth season, but Variety understands that the neo-noir — which isn’t currently in production — has been canceled by Sky...
- 6/29/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
New ‘Neighbours’ As Reprieved Series Prepares Return
The return of long-running Australian soap “Neighbours” will see a new family, the Varga-Murphys, featuring mums, Remi (Naomi Rukavina) and Cara (Sara West) and teenage sons, JJ (Riley Bryant) and Dex (Marley Williams), moving to the iconic Ramsay Street.
West said: “Cara has a bold, impassioned love for her family and I love that her intentions have, so far, always been good. I hope having the Varga-Murphys on telly will help better reflect the beautiful Lgbtqia+ community that I’m proud to be a part of and I can’t wait to share the family with you.”
Rukavina added: “As a stalwart of Australian drama television, the show is on the front foot of showcasing diverse and real representations of Australian families, not in a tokenistic way.”
“Neighbours,” produced by Fremantle, will premiere for free, exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the U.K.
The return of long-running Australian soap “Neighbours” will see a new family, the Varga-Murphys, featuring mums, Remi (Naomi Rukavina) and Cara (Sara West) and teenage sons, JJ (Riley Bryant) and Dex (Marley Williams), moving to the iconic Ramsay Street.
West said: “Cara has a bold, impassioned love for her family and I love that her intentions have, so far, always been good. I hope having the Varga-Murphys on telly will help better reflect the beautiful Lgbtqia+ community that I’m proud to be a part of and I can’t wait to share the family with you.”
Rukavina added: “As a stalwart of Australian drama television, the show is on the front foot of showcasing diverse and real representations of Australian families, not in a tokenistic way.”
“Neighbours,” produced by Fremantle, will premiere for free, exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the U.K.
- 6/22/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome, Insiders. Cannes is now well under way while the picket lines remain busy in LA. Jesse Whittock here in London. I’ve rounded up all the big and important news from film and TV, so sit back and enjoy the read. Subscribe here.
Cannes Gets In Gear Cannes
Controversy: Diana Lodderhose here reporting from Cannes where it’s been all systems go on the Croisette since the festival kicked off with the opening of Johnny Depp starrer Jeanne du Barry on Tuesday. It wouldn’t feel like a proper Cannes without a healthy dose of controversy. Festival head Thierry Frémaux responded to French actress Adèle Haenel’s suggestion that Cannes is part of a French eco-system that turns a blind eye to sexual violence. “It’s not true and the proof is that if you believed it, you would not be here, listening to me now, taking your accreditations...
Cannes Gets In Gear Cannes
Controversy: Diana Lodderhose here reporting from Cannes where it’s been all systems go on the Croisette since the festival kicked off with the opening of Johnny Depp starrer Jeanne du Barry on Tuesday. It wouldn’t feel like a proper Cannes without a healthy dose of controversy. Festival head Thierry Frémaux responded to French actress Adèle Haenel’s suggestion that Cannes is part of a French eco-system that turns a blind eye to sexual violence. “It’s not true and the proof is that if you believed it, you would not be here, listening to me now, taking your accreditations...
- 5/19/2023
- by Jesse Whittock and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Sky wanted to start 2023 with a bang. Comcast’s European pay-tv giant gathered journalists at London’s salubrious Soho Hotel and laid on a banquet table heaving with Danish pastries. A smorgasbord of upcoming Sky content was also on the menu, but there was really only one show on everyone’s lips. The Last of Us had recently premiered and Pedro Pascal’s blockbuster apocalypse series was in the mood to steal Sky’s thunder.
Sky is the home of HBO content in the UK and people who know the business will tell you it is both a blessing and a curse. In many respects, it is the diamond-studded crown atop Sky’s £500M ($630M) original content pile, but industry insiders say the headgear weighs heavy.
HBO makes some of the best television in the world by any standard, meaning Sky is subscription bait for Succession and Game of Thrones fans.
Sky is the home of HBO content in the UK and people who know the business will tell you it is both a blessing and a curse. In many respects, it is the diamond-studded crown atop Sky’s £500M ($630M) original content pile, but industry insiders say the headgear weighs heavy.
HBO makes some of the best television in the world by any standard, meaning Sky is subscription bait for Succession and Game of Thrones fans.
- 5/18/2023
- by Jake Kanter and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
National protests in France threatened to disrupt the 2023 Series Mania television festival and international industry summit, but, in the end, the 2023 event went off without a hitch. Members of the global TV industry gathered in the northern French city of Lille to celebrate the best in new small-screen drama and ponder the future of the business.
Here are the four big industry takeaways.
Everyone’s Going Local Netflix original series Transatlantic, is produced out of Germany
A few years back, all the major streamers were touting their global appeal, but with subscription growth slowing, the battle for business has moved to the local level. At Series Mania, execs for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Paramount+ all touted their local credentials.
Netflix’s heads of European TV programming, including Germany’s Katja Hofem, France’s Damien Couvreur, and the Nordic region’s Jenny Stjernströmer Björk teased the streamer’s Euro slate,...
Here are the four big industry takeaways.
Everyone’s Going Local Netflix original series Transatlantic, is produced out of Germany
A few years back, all the major streamers were touting their global appeal, but with subscription growth slowing, the battle for business has moved to the local level. At Series Mania, execs for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Paramount+ all touted their local credentials.
Netflix’s heads of European TV programming, including Germany’s Katja Hofem, France’s Damien Couvreur, and the Nordic region’s Jenny Stjernströmer Björk teased the streamer’s Euro slate,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sky Studios CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz has called the plethora of shows on the market “really confusing” for viewers.
In a keynote interview at Series Mania today, Frot-Coutaz addressed said the biggest challenge for platforms such as Comcast-owned Sky as one of discoverability.
“The challenges of the industry have always been partnering with the right creatives and executing things well,” she said. “What’s changed massively recently is there’s just too much product. For consumers it’s really confusing.”
The challenge was ensuring programs could cut through and reach the right audiences. “There’s going to be a real demand for simplification,” she said.
Related: Deadline’s Full Coverage Of Series Mania 2023
Elsewhere in her talk, Frot-Coutaz declined to comment on reports Sky is looking at selling Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland, and instead spoke about the Sky Studios departments in Italy and Germany work together and with Sky UK & Ireland.
In a keynote interview at Series Mania today, Frot-Coutaz addressed said the biggest challenge for platforms such as Comcast-owned Sky as one of discoverability.
“The challenges of the industry have always been partnering with the right creatives and executing things well,” she said. “What’s changed massively recently is there’s just too much product. For consumers it’s really confusing.”
The challenge was ensuring programs could cut through and reach the right audiences. “There’s going to be a real demand for simplification,” she said.
Related: Deadline’s Full Coverage Of Series Mania 2023
Elsewhere in her talk, Frot-Coutaz declined to comment on reports Sky is looking at selling Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland, and instead spoke about the Sky Studios departments in Italy and Germany work together and with Sky UK & Ireland.
- 3/23/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Lille’s Series Mania Forum is kicking off today with a packed schedule of talks, screenings and competitions.
Fighting it out in International Competition are the likes of Prime Video’s Toni Collette starrer The Power, Haven of Grace from Magnetic Beats director Vincent Maël Cardona, and Quoc Dang Tran’s Apple TV+ series Drops of God.
They compete against Greek series Milky Way, which opened the festival, Viaplay’s futuristic Russell Tovey drama The Fortress, Red Skies from Israel, The Actor from Iran and Fleeting Lies from Spain. Each will have its world premiere at the event.
The Power is a fantasy series set in a world where the physical balance of power between men and women switches when electric arcs emerge from the fingers of teenage girls all around the world. Debuting later this month, it comes from Sister, the UK producer behind Chernobyl and is based on Naomi Alderman’s sci-fi novel.
Fighting it out in International Competition are the likes of Prime Video’s Toni Collette starrer The Power, Haven of Grace from Magnetic Beats director Vincent Maël Cardona, and Quoc Dang Tran’s Apple TV+ series Drops of God.
They compete against Greek series Milky Way, which opened the festival, Viaplay’s futuristic Russell Tovey drama The Fortress, Red Skies from Israel, The Actor from Iran and Fleeting Lies from Spain. Each will have its world premiere at the event.
The Power is a fantasy series set in a world where the physical balance of power between men and women switches when electric arcs emerge from the fingers of teenage girls all around the world. Debuting later this month, it comes from Sister, the UK producer behind Chernobyl and is based on Naomi Alderman’s sci-fi novel.
- 3/21/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Former CBS News president David Rhodes has been appointed executive chairman of Sky News.
In his new pan-European role, Rhodes will be responsible for Sky’s Emea news services with a focus on commercial strategy in both the U.K. and Italy.
Rhodes, who will report to Sky Studios CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz, has spent over 25 years in journalism, eight of which as president of CBS news. As well as leading Bloomberg Television he has also worked with the L.A. Times, Spotify and Bcg among other organisations. In 2021 he joined Sky from News U.K. as group director of international business development.
Under the new leadership structure Jonathan Levy has also been promoted from director of newsgathering and operations to managing director and executive editor of Sky News U.K., where he will be responsible for Sky’s news across multiple platforms including digital, TV and audio. He will report into Rhodes.
In his new pan-European role, Rhodes will be responsible for Sky’s Emea news services with a focus on commercial strategy in both the U.K. and Italy.
Rhodes, who will report to Sky Studios CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz, has spent over 25 years in journalism, eight of which as president of CBS news. As well as leading Bloomberg Television he has also worked with the L.A. Times, Spotify and Bcg among other organisations. In 2021 he joined Sky from News U.K. as group director of international business development.
Under the new leadership structure Jonathan Levy has also been promoted from director of newsgathering and operations to managing director and executive editor of Sky News U.K., where he will be responsible for Sky’s news across multiple platforms including digital, TV and audio. He will report into Rhodes.
- 2/27/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Comcast-owned European TV giant Sky unveiled a new leadership structure for its Sky News Group on Monday. It named former CBS News president David Rhodes executive chairman of the Sky News Group with “overall responsibility for Sky’s news services across Europe, Middle East and Africa.”
His pan-European role “will focus on the development of a long-term commercial strategy for both Sky News U.K. and TG24 in Italy,” the news channel of Sky Italia, the company said. Rhodes will report to Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Levy was promoted to managing director and executive editor of Sky News U.K., “with the primary responsibility for the journalism on all U.K. platforms, including digital, TV and audio.”
The new leadership was set after the December news that John Ryley would depart as head of Sky News after 17 years at the helm.
“I am delighted with these appointments,...
His pan-European role “will focus on the development of a long-term commercial strategy for both Sky News U.K. and TG24 in Italy,” the news channel of Sky Italia, the company said. Rhodes will report to Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Levy was promoted to managing director and executive editor of Sky News U.K., “with the primary responsibility for the journalism on all U.K. platforms, including digital, TV and audio.”
The new leadership was set after the December news that John Ryley would depart as head of Sky News after 17 years at the helm.
“I am delighted with these appointments,...
- 2/27/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Dead Pixels’ Remake Set At India’s Disney+ Hotstar
India’s Disney+ Hotstar has greenlit a remake of gamer comedy Dead Pixels, the British show produced by Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Phil Clarke’s Various Artists Limited. BBC Studios India and Tamada Media are behind the remake, which will be in Telugu and follows the journey of three young friends whose lives revolve around an online video game, with the ultimate goal of defeating a virtual villain. The Indian version moves from the UK to Hyderabad, depicting the main characters’ obsession with the game and how it interferes in different aspects of their daily lives. Aditya Mandala is director, Akshay Poolla is writer and the version stars Niharika Konidela, Harsha Chemudu, Sai Ronak, Akshay Lagusani and Bhavana Sagi. The British Dead Pixels has aired for two seasons on E4 and was picked up in the U.S.
India’s Disney+ Hotstar has greenlit a remake of gamer comedy Dead Pixels, the British show produced by Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Phil Clarke’s Various Artists Limited. BBC Studios India and Tamada Media are behind the remake, which will be in Telugu and follows the journey of three young friends whose lives revolve around an online video game, with the ultimate goal of defeating a virtual villain. The Indian version moves from the UK to Hyderabad, depicting the main characters’ obsession with the game and how it interferes in different aspects of their daily lives. Aditya Mandala is director, Akshay Poolla is writer and the version stars Niharika Konidela, Harsha Chemudu, Sai Ronak, Akshay Lagusani and Bhavana Sagi. The British Dead Pixels has aired for two seasons on E4 and was picked up in the U.S.
- 2/27/2023
- by Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
‘The Woman King’ & ‘Aftersun’ Dominate Girls On Film Awards
The Woman King and Aftersun dominated the main awards at the second annual Girls On Film Awards. The Woman King picked up Best Ensemble, sponsored by Netflix, and Best Female Friendship On Screen. Woman King star Viola Davis was also awarded the Feminist Superhero award. Woman King lead Sheila Atim was there in person to accept the awards. Aftersun nabbed Best Feature Film Sponsored by Eon Productions, while the film’s publicity team also won Best Publicity Campaign. Other big winners included Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder, which took home Best Cinematography and the Sinéad O’Connor pic Nothing Compares (Best Documentary). Nominees for the awards were chosen by a selection of critics and journalists. Girls On Film was launched by Deadline critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and producer Hedda Archbold with the aim of rewarding excellence in the field of feminism,...
The Woman King and Aftersun dominated the main awards at the second annual Girls On Film Awards. The Woman King picked up Best Ensemble, sponsored by Netflix, and Best Female Friendship On Screen. Woman King star Viola Davis was also awarded the Feminist Superhero award. Woman King lead Sheila Atim was there in person to accept the awards. Aftersun nabbed Best Feature Film Sponsored by Eon Productions, while the film’s publicity team also won Best Publicity Campaign. Other big winners included Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder, which took home Best Cinematography and the Sinéad O’Connor pic Nothing Compares (Best Documentary). Nominees for the awards were chosen by a selection of critics and journalists. Girls On Film was launched by Deadline critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and producer Hedda Archbold with the aim of rewarding excellence in the field of feminism,...
- 2/24/2023
- by Zac Ntim, Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content will deliver a keynote at Series Mania’s Lille Dialogues whose one-day summit looks set to take the pulse on a global content industry as content investment flattens and ask how to build a more responsible industry in the future.
Marking an early opportunity to hear from streaming platforms after both Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney have announced multi-billion dollar cuts in content investment, the Lille Dialogues also count on a keynote from James Farrell, head of local originals, Prime Video.
Further keynotes will be delivered by top execs at France’s biggest free-to-air service, TF1, as well as its energetic public broadcaster France Télévisions and Europe’s biggest pay TV operator, Sky. Jan Mojto, CEO, Beta Film, can be expected to deliver a wide-angled vision of how stories made in Europe can find a market worldwide.
“With the theme...
Marking an early opportunity to hear from streaming platforms after both Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney have announced multi-billion dollar cuts in content investment, the Lille Dialogues also count on a keynote from James Farrell, head of local originals, Prime Video.
Further keynotes will be delivered by top execs at France’s biggest free-to-air service, TF1, as well as its energetic public broadcaster France Télévisions and Europe’s biggest pay TV operator, Sky. Jan Mojto, CEO, Beta Film, can be expected to deliver a wide-angled vision of how stories made in Europe can find a market worldwide.
“With the theme...
- 2/24/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Beyond the festival element of Series Mania, one major draw for international industry professionals is its industry strand, Series Mania Forum, which runs from March 21-23. The popular event, which largely centers around its Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, panels and conferences, nicely wraps up with its Lille Dialogues one-day summit on March 23.
This year, the Forum is expecting delegates from Europe, North America, South America and Asia to touch down with a number of top industry execs set to speak. Notably, HBO’s Casey Bloys, will be doing an In Conversation keynote speech during the Lille Dialogues titled ‘How HBO and HBO Max Are Diving into The Future.”
The theme for this year’s Lille Dialogues is ‘Shaping the Future with the Audiovisual Sector’ and additional speakers at the summit include: Beta Group’s Jan Mojto; Prime Video’s James Farrell; Sky Studios’ Cécile Frot-Coutaz; and an In Conversation with TF1’s Rodolphe Belmer.
This year, the Forum is expecting delegates from Europe, North America, South America and Asia to touch down with a number of top industry execs set to speak. Notably, HBO’s Casey Bloys, will be doing an In Conversation keynote speech during the Lille Dialogues titled ‘How HBO and HBO Max Are Diving into The Future.”
The theme for this year’s Lille Dialogues is ‘Shaping the Future with the Audiovisual Sector’ and additional speakers at the summit include: Beta Group’s Jan Mojto; Prime Video’s James Farrell; Sky Studios’ Cécile Frot-Coutaz; and an In Conversation with TF1’s Rodolphe Belmer.
- 2/23/2023
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Pay TV operator Sky has revealed the recruits joining its new two-year assistant commissioner program, which is designed to attract fresh talent from outside the traditional pool of commissioning executives.
The program will bring 30 more commissioners to Sky’s teams across Sky Studios and Sky U.K., growing the number from 23 to 30.
The assistant commissioners include Sholla Caramba-Coker in drama, Leanne Cosby in arts and entertainment, Ziyaad Desai and Giberte Phanor in factual, Isaac Nartey in kids and Sabrina Parmar in film. The seventh recruit, for the comedy team, will be announced imminently. The assistant commissioners will be supported by the National Film and Television School to develop early-stage Sky original projects and bring new ideas to returning formats.
Caramba-Coker has worked for South of the River Pictures and Left Bank as a development producer. Cosby was a theatre and dance producer at the Barbican. Desai has produced and directed a...
The program will bring 30 more commissioners to Sky’s teams across Sky Studios and Sky U.K., growing the number from 23 to 30.
The assistant commissioners include Sholla Caramba-Coker in drama, Leanne Cosby in arts and entertainment, Ziyaad Desai and Giberte Phanor in factual, Isaac Nartey in kids and Sabrina Parmar in film. The seventh recruit, for the comedy team, will be announced imminently. The assistant commissioners will be supported by the National Film and Television School to develop early-stage Sky original projects and bring new ideas to returning formats.
Caramba-Coker has worked for South of the River Pictures and Left Bank as a development producer. Cosby was a theatre and dance producer at the Barbican. Desai has produced and directed a...
- 2/6/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
There was a time when Fremantle was shorthand for the American Idol company. ABC’s iconic entertainment brand was undoubtedly a coveted calling card, but it also served to constrain perceptions of a company that harbored a grander vision.
Peter Bose, the preeminent Danish drama producer behind shows including Wallander, knows this better than most. He recalls a conversation he had with CAA in 2013 after telling his agent he wanted to sell his company, Miso Films, to Fremantle.
“Fremantle? Who is Fremantle within scripted?” came the reply. “We couldn’t actually argue, you know,” Bose remembers. A decade on, the acquisition of Miso was a brick in the foundations of Fremantle delivering more than 100 dramas last year.
Fremantle is now firmly established in the scripted game. It was the company that transformed Sir Kenneth Branagh into Boris Johnson for This England. Its Nordic noir hit Face to Face, made by Miso,...
Peter Bose, the preeminent Danish drama producer behind shows including Wallander, knows this better than most. He recalls a conversation he had with CAA in 2013 after telling his agent he wanted to sell his company, Miso Films, to Fremantle.
“Fremantle? Who is Fremantle within scripted?” came the reply. “We couldn’t actually argue, you know,” Bose remembers. A decade on, the acquisition of Miso was a brick in the foundations of Fremantle delivering more than 100 dramas last year.
Fremantle is now firmly established in the scripted game. It was the company that transformed Sir Kenneth Branagh into Boris Johnson for This England. Its Nordic noir hit Face to Face, made by Miso,...
- 1/16/2023
- by Jake Kanter and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Nicholas Galitzine (Cinderella) has been cast opposite Julianne Moore in Sky and AMC’s buzzy period drama Mary & George about powerful royal family favorites Mary Villiers and her son George.
Filming on the drama series is now underway in the UK.
Oscar winner Moore will play Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, who in 17th century England molded her beautiful son, George (Galitzine), to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover. Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become one of the richest, most titled and influential mother and sons England had ever seen.
Based on a true story, the eight-part limited series is created by DC Moore, whose credits include Killing Eve, Temple and Not Safe for Work.
The series will mark only the second time Boogie Nights and Still Alice star Moore has led a TV drama after 2021 Apple miniseries Lisey’s Story.
Filming on the drama series is now underway in the UK.
Oscar winner Moore will play Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, who in 17th century England molded her beautiful son, George (Galitzine), to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover. Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become one of the richest, most titled and influential mother and sons England had ever seen.
Based on a true story, the eight-part limited series is created by DC Moore, whose credits include Killing Eve, Temple and Not Safe for Work.
The series will mark only the second time Boogie Nights and Still Alice star Moore has led a TV drama after 2021 Apple miniseries Lisey’s Story.
- 1/13/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Katherine Butler and Adrian Sturges join drama team led by UK & Ireland chief Meghan Lyvers.
Sky Studios, the production arm of European pay-tv giant Sky, have added The Ink Factory’s former creative director and the producer of Netflix’s The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself as it ramps up its drama team under UK & Ireland chief Meghan Lyvers.
Katherine Butler has joined the studio as director of drama commissioning for Uk&i, while Adrian Sturges joins as executive producer. Butler effectively replaces Gabriel Silver, who departed in September, and will join in the new year. Sturges takes up his role this month.
Sky Studios, the production arm of European pay-tv giant Sky, have added The Ink Factory’s former creative director and the producer of Netflix’s The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself as it ramps up its drama team under UK & Ireland chief Meghan Lyvers.
Katherine Butler has joined the studio as director of drama commissioning for Uk&i, while Adrian Sturges joins as executive producer. Butler effectively replaces Gabriel Silver, who departed in September, and will join in the new year. Sturges takes up his role this month.
- 12/7/2022
- by John Elmes Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Oscar winner Julianne Moore is set to lead Sky and AMC period-drama series Mary & George, about powerful royal family favourites Mary Villiers and her son George.
Based on a true story, the eight-part limited series is created by DC Moore, whose credits include Killing Eve, Temple and Not Safe For Work.
Julianne Moore will play Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, who in 17th Century England moulded her beautiful son, George, to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover. Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become one of the richest, most titled, and influential mother and sons England had ever seen. The series is due to begin filming in early 2023.
The series will mark only the second time Moore has led a TV drama after 2021 Apple mini-series Lisey’s Story.
Mary & George is produced by Liza Marshall’s Hera Pictures in association with Sky Studios...
Based on a true story, the eight-part limited series is created by DC Moore, whose credits include Killing Eve, Temple and Not Safe For Work.
Julianne Moore will play Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, who in 17th Century England moulded her beautiful son, George, to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover. Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become one of the richest, most titled, and influential mother and sons England had ever seen. The series is due to begin filming in early 2023.
The series will mark only the second time Moore has led a TV drama after 2021 Apple mini-series Lisey’s Story.
Mary & George is produced by Liza Marshall’s Hera Pictures in association with Sky Studios...
- 10/17/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Drama commissioners Gabriel Silver and Liz Lewin and production head Amanda Wilkie-Sweeney are leaving.
Drama commissioners Gabriel Silver and Liz Lewin and production head Amanda Wilkie-Sweeney are leaving Sky Studios, Screen’s sister site Broadcast has learned.
It is believed all three have irons in the fire in terms of new roles, though the details are not known.
The trio follow Preethi Mavahalli out of the pay-tv provider’s drama department, who joined Ben Stephenson’s Poison Pen earlier this week.
Lewin and Wilkie-Sweeney resigned over the summer, while Silver’s departure was communicated to staff earlier this week.
Sky Studio...
Drama commissioners Gabriel Silver and Liz Lewin and production head Amanda Wilkie-Sweeney are leaving Sky Studios, Screen’s sister site Broadcast has learned.
It is believed all three have irons in the fire in terms of new roles, though the details are not known.
The trio follow Preethi Mavahalli out of the pay-tv provider’s drama department, who joined Ben Stephenson’s Poison Pen earlier this week.
Lewin and Wilkie-Sweeney resigned over the summer, while Silver’s departure was communicated to staff earlier this week.
Sky Studio...
- 9/23/2022
- by Alex Farber Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Luke Seraphin has been appointed to the newly created role of head of inclusion, content and Sky Studios, reporting into Sky managing director of content Zai Bennett and Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz.
Seraphin will be responsible for the creation and delivery of all diversity, equality, inclusion and accessibility initiatives across Sky originals, including development, production and commissioning. They will work closely with Claudia Osei-Nsafoah, Sky’s group director of people, talent, diversity and inclusion, and her team of diversity and inclusion experts.
Seraphin has worked at Sky since 2020 as head of drama and factual PR and had previous stints at Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.
“Luke will drive and implement a robust and effective diversity and inclusion strategy across all Sky originals. Aligning with the wider broadcast industry and industry bodies, Luke will identify key areas to engage, develop and maintain diverse talent both on and off-screen,...
Seraphin will be responsible for the creation and delivery of all diversity, equality, inclusion and accessibility initiatives across Sky originals, including development, production and commissioning. They will work closely with Claudia Osei-Nsafoah, Sky’s group director of people, talent, diversity and inclusion, and her team of diversity and inclusion experts.
Seraphin has worked at Sky since 2020 as head of drama and factual PR and had previous stints at Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.
“Luke will drive and implement a robust and effective diversity and inclusion strategy across all Sky originals. Aligning with the wider broadcast industry and industry bodies, Luke will identify key areas to engage, develop and maintain diverse talent both on and off-screen,...
- 8/19/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Commissions
Sky original drama series “The Lovers,” starring Johnny Flynn (“Beast”) and Roisin Gallagher (“The Fall”) has commenced production. The six-part series, written by playwright David Ireland (“Cyprus Avenue”) and directed by Justin Martin (“Together”), follows Janet (Gallagher), a foul-mouthed, disaffected Belfast supermarket worker and Seamus (Flynn) a self-centred, political broadcaster with what looks to be a perfect London life and a celebrity girlfriend. It is produced by Drama Republic, in association with Sky Studios and will available on Sky Atlantic and streamer Now in 2023.
The series was commissioned by Gabriel Silver, director of commissioning for drama at Sky Studios, for Zai Bennett, MD of content at Sky U.K. Roanna Benn and Rebecca de Souza are executive producers for Drama Republic, with commissioning editors Liz Lewin and Manpreet Dosanjh as executive producers for Sky Studios. Hannah Pescod also serves as executive producer, with Chris Martin as producer. NBCUniversal Global Distribution...
Sky original drama series “The Lovers,” starring Johnny Flynn (“Beast”) and Roisin Gallagher (“The Fall”) has commenced production. The six-part series, written by playwright David Ireland (“Cyprus Avenue”) and directed by Justin Martin (“Together”), follows Janet (Gallagher), a foul-mouthed, disaffected Belfast supermarket worker and Seamus (Flynn) a self-centred, political broadcaster with what looks to be a perfect London life and a celebrity girlfriend. It is produced by Drama Republic, in association with Sky Studios and will available on Sky Atlantic and streamer Now in 2023.
The series was commissioned by Gabriel Silver, director of commissioning for drama at Sky Studios, for Zai Bennett, MD of content at Sky U.K. Roanna Benn and Rebecca de Souza are executive producers for Drama Republic, with commissioning editors Liz Lewin and Manpreet Dosanjh as executive producers for Sky Studios. Hannah Pescod also serves as executive producer, with Chris Martin as producer. NBCUniversal Global Distribution...
- 6/28/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
A reimagining of Mary Shelley’s horror classic Frankenstein, a 1950s drama about the Nazi scientists who helped create the U.S. space program and a post-apocalyptic tale set on a North Sea island are among the new original series unveiled Tuesday by Sky Deutschland, the German arm of Comcast’s European pay TV group Sky.
Sky has commissioned German director Robert Schwenkte (R.E.D., Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins) to helm seven-part sci-fi series Helgoland 513: 2034, based on his original script. The post-apocalyptic drama imagines a world in which the North Sea island of Helgoland has become the last safe haven for humanity. But the totalitarian society in charge dictates that only 513 people be allowed to live on the island, with every resident given a “social ranking” according to their “usefulness.” All the while, a dangerous force from the mainland is...
A reimagining of Mary Shelley’s horror classic Frankenstein, a 1950s drama about the Nazi scientists who helped create the U.S. space program and a post-apocalyptic tale set on a North Sea island are among the new original series unveiled Tuesday by Sky Deutschland, the German arm of Comcast’s European pay TV group Sky.
Sky has commissioned German director Robert Schwenkte (R.E.D., Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins) to helm seven-part sci-fi series Helgoland 513: 2034, based on his original script. The post-apocalyptic drama imagines a world in which the North Sea island of Helgoland has become the last safe haven for humanity. But the totalitarian society in charge dictates that only 513 people be allowed to live on the island, with every resident given a “social ranking” according to their “usefulness.” All the while, a dangerous force from the mainland is...
- 6/28/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
An apocalyptic drama from the makes of Deutschland 83, a retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and an emotionally-driven series set in Alabama are European giant Sky Deutschland’s latest trio of original dramas.
Ahead of the satellite broadcaster’s launch of original drama Munich Games tonight at the Munich Film Festival, three Sky Studios shows have been unveiled: Helgoland 513, Frankenstein Untold and Huntsville Al. The latter two are in development, while the former has been greenlit.
Helgoland is set in 2034 after after a global apocalypse, where the North Sea island of Helgoland has become humanity’s last safe haven. A totalitarian society has been established that only allows 513 people on the island and as resources are scarce, an inhumane ‘social ranking’ system evaluates the lives of the inhabitants according to their ‘usefulness.’ At there same time, a dangerous force from the mainland prepares to invade.
Written and directed by Robert Schwentke, the seven-part series will begin filming later this year and comes from Deutschland 83 producer UFA Fiction in association with Sky Studios.
Frankenstein Untold is billed as “a radical reimagining of Mary Shelley’s fantasy classic.” The synopsis reveals “intense and emotionally complex drama” is “told through the eyes of eight powerful characters” and explores the philosophical and political depths of the novel, centering around themes, such as the search for love and belonging, as well as revenge.” Set in 1816, locations include dirty streets of Ingolstadt, Germany, Switzerland’s Lake Geneva, and the vast ice desert of the North Pole.
Philipp Stölzl is creator and director, with the series currently in development with Neue Schönhauser Film (Back on Track).
Huntsville Al takes inspiration by “never-before-told, true stories,” and will be an “emotionally intense drama set in the 1950s in the southern town of Huntsville, Alabama.”
It will explore how hundreds of former German Nazi engineers and their families radically transforming the segregated, sleepy little town as the American space industry neared its launch after they were recruited by the US Army for a secret missile project. They dream of reaching the Moon, but the late arrival of one family could endanger the whole endeavour.
Director Achim v. Borries (Babylon Berlin), Nadav Schirman (The Green Prince), Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen created the series, which is currently in development with Zeitsprung, Fremantle’s Italian producer Wildside and Beta Film.
Next Up Event Sets Agenda
Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz and EVP for Deutschland and Italia Nils Hartmann unveiled the series at Sky’s Up Next event in Munich, which came during the same period at the Munich Film Festival. Sky Deutschland is giving Munich Games, its six-part political thriller from creator and writer Michal Aviram (Fauda), director Philipp Kadelbach and writer Martin Behnke. Co-produced by Amusement Park Film, CBS Studios and Sky Studios, it is set 50 years after the Munich Massacre, when Israel’s Olympic team were attacked and taken hostage by terrorists.
At the Next Up event Elke Walthelm, EVP of Content for Sky Deutschland revealed the broadcaster will offer over 60 local and international Sky Original series to customers across the Germany, Austria and Switzerland this year, such as Souls from Geißendörfer Pictures.
Hartmann added: “The new Sky Originals revealed today showcase the breadth of storytelling and creative ambition we are targeting on our original drama slate for Sky Studios Deutschland. We want the creative community in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to bring us their best, boldest and buzziest ideas as we invest further in premium original content for our customers.”...
Ahead of the satellite broadcaster’s launch of original drama Munich Games tonight at the Munich Film Festival, three Sky Studios shows have been unveiled: Helgoland 513, Frankenstein Untold and Huntsville Al. The latter two are in development, while the former has been greenlit.
Helgoland is set in 2034 after after a global apocalypse, where the North Sea island of Helgoland has become humanity’s last safe haven. A totalitarian society has been established that only allows 513 people on the island and as resources are scarce, an inhumane ‘social ranking’ system evaluates the lives of the inhabitants according to their ‘usefulness.’ At there same time, a dangerous force from the mainland prepares to invade.
Written and directed by Robert Schwentke, the seven-part series will begin filming later this year and comes from Deutschland 83 producer UFA Fiction in association with Sky Studios.
Frankenstein Untold is billed as “a radical reimagining of Mary Shelley’s fantasy classic.” The synopsis reveals “intense and emotionally complex drama” is “told through the eyes of eight powerful characters” and explores the philosophical and political depths of the novel, centering around themes, such as the search for love and belonging, as well as revenge.” Set in 1816, locations include dirty streets of Ingolstadt, Germany, Switzerland’s Lake Geneva, and the vast ice desert of the North Pole.
Philipp Stölzl is creator and director, with the series currently in development with Neue Schönhauser Film (Back on Track).
Huntsville Al takes inspiration by “never-before-told, true stories,” and will be an “emotionally intense drama set in the 1950s in the southern town of Huntsville, Alabama.”
It will explore how hundreds of former German Nazi engineers and their families radically transforming the segregated, sleepy little town as the American space industry neared its launch after they were recruited by the US Army for a secret missile project. They dream of reaching the Moon, but the late arrival of one family could endanger the whole endeavour.
Director Achim v. Borries (Babylon Berlin), Nadav Schirman (The Green Prince), Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen created the series, which is currently in development with Zeitsprung, Fremantle’s Italian producer Wildside and Beta Film.
Next Up Event Sets Agenda
Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz and EVP for Deutschland and Italia Nils Hartmann unveiled the series at Sky’s Up Next event in Munich, which came during the same period at the Munich Film Festival. Sky Deutschland is giving Munich Games, its six-part political thriller from creator and writer Michal Aviram (Fauda), director Philipp Kadelbach and writer Martin Behnke. Co-produced by Amusement Park Film, CBS Studios and Sky Studios, it is set 50 years after the Munich Massacre, when Israel’s Olympic team were attacked and taken hostage by terrorists.
At the Next Up event Elke Walthelm, EVP of Content for Sky Deutschland revealed the broadcaster will offer over 60 local and international Sky Original series to customers across the Germany, Austria and Switzerland this year, such as Souls from Geißendörfer Pictures.
Hartmann added: “The new Sky Originals revealed today showcase the breadth of storytelling and creative ambition we are targeting on our original drama slate for Sky Studios Deutschland. We want the creative community in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to bring us their best, boldest and buzziest ideas as we invest further in premium original content for our customers.”...
- 6/28/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Sky Studios has hired CBS Studios international co-pros chief Meghan Lyvers as it seeks to significantly scale up its original UK drama output.
Lyvers will become Director of Original Drama, UK & Ireland — a new role that will see her have oversight of all premium original dramas commissioned and produced at the Gangs of London and Chernobyl company, which is Sky’s original programming arm in Europe. She is set to join in late summer in the UK.
Lyvers team will include Gabriel Silver, who was upped to Director of Drama Commissioning last year and will continue to lead on commissioned Sky Original drama projects such as the upcoming The Lazarus Project and The Baby, and Preethi Mavahalli, who joined earlier this year from Mammoth Screen as Creative Director.
Silver and Mavahalli have been overseeing Sky Studios’ drama output in the wake of former Director of Drama Cameron Roach’s exit,...
Lyvers will become Director of Original Drama, UK & Ireland — a new role that will see her have oversight of all premium original dramas commissioned and produced at the Gangs of London and Chernobyl company, which is Sky’s original programming arm in Europe. She is set to join in late summer in the UK.
Lyvers team will include Gabriel Silver, who was upped to Director of Drama Commissioning last year and will continue to lead on commissioned Sky Original drama projects such as the upcoming The Lazarus Project and The Baby, and Preethi Mavahalli, who joined earlier this year from Mammoth Screen as Creative Director.
Silver and Mavahalli have been overseeing Sky Studios’ drama output in the wake of former Director of Drama Cameron Roach’s exit,...
- 6/8/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Sky Studios, Comcast-owned Sky’s content production arm, has named Meghan Lyvers to the role of director of original drama, U.K. & Ireland as the unit “targets a significant increase in the investment and scale of Sky original drama.”
She is expected to join Sky Studios in late summer and will relocate from Amsterdam to London, reporting to Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz. Lyvers will also work closely with the wider original content teams at Sky U.K., Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia.
In the newly created role, Lyvers will “oversee an increasingly diverse slate of premium Sky original dramas for Sky’s customers in the U.K. and Ireland and joins Sky Studios at a time when it is deepening its investment in U.K., European and global projects of scale, including Gangs of London, M: Son of the Century and the...
Sky Studios, Comcast-owned Sky’s content production arm, has named Meghan Lyvers to the role of director of original drama, U.K. & Ireland as the unit “targets a significant increase in the investment and scale of Sky original drama.”
She is expected to join Sky Studios in late summer and will relocate from Amsterdam to London, reporting to Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz. Lyvers will also work closely with the wider original content teams at Sky U.K., Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia.
In the newly created role, Lyvers will “oversee an increasingly diverse slate of premium Sky original dramas for Sky’s customers in the U.K. and Ireland and joins Sky Studios at a time when it is deepening its investment in U.K., European and global projects of scale, including Gangs of London, M: Son of the Century and the...
- 6/8/2022
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CBS Studios’ Meghan Lyvers is heading to Sky Studios in a new role as director of original drama for the U.K. and Ireland. She joins in late summer, moving from Amsterdam to London to take up the role.
At Sky Studios, Sky’s original programming arm, Lyvers will oversee Sky Original dramas, a brand which already includes “Gangs of London,” “M: Son of the Century” and “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.”
Her team will include director of drama commissioning Gabriel Silver and creative director Preethi Mavahalli as well as working closely with the original content teams at Sky’s U.K., German and Italian outposts. Lyvers, who will report to Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz, will have “strategic oversight over all drama projects commissioned and produced for Sky UK’s customers with a view to creating shows with global impact and appeal.”
At CBS Studios Lyvers was the SVP and...
At Sky Studios, Sky’s original programming arm, Lyvers will oversee Sky Original dramas, a brand which already includes “Gangs of London,” “M: Son of the Century” and “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.”
Her team will include director of drama commissioning Gabriel Silver and creative director Preethi Mavahalli as well as working closely with the original content teams at Sky’s U.K., German and Italian outposts. Lyvers, who will report to Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz, will have “strategic oversight over all drama projects commissioned and produced for Sky UK’s customers with a view to creating shows with global impact and appeal.”
At CBS Studios Lyvers was the SVP and...
- 6/8/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
It was a quirk of fate that first set Cécile Frot-Coutaz on the path to becoming CEO of Sky Studios, to which she was appointed last year.
“I think we all have [those] moments that have quite an impact on your trajectory,” Frot-Coutaz tells Variety. “You may not really realize it when it happens, but when you look back later on, you can see the thread.”
For Frot-Coutaz, who is receiving Variety’s Intl. Achievement in TV Award at MipTV, that moment was a decision made by her father, a French research scientist, to accept a three-year posting just outside Washington, D.C., and bring his family with him. At age 8, Frot-Coutaz arrived in the U.S. not knowing a word of English and with little understanding of American culture. “In those days the world was less global,” she says. But she soon learned the language and “fell in love with the United States,...
“I think we all have [those] moments that have quite an impact on your trajectory,” Frot-Coutaz tells Variety. “You may not really realize it when it happens, but when you look back later on, you can see the thread.”
For Frot-Coutaz, who is receiving Variety’s Intl. Achievement in TV Award at MipTV, that moment was a decision made by her father, a French research scientist, to accept a three-year posting just outside Washington, D.C., and bring his family with him. At age 8, Frot-Coutaz arrived in the U.S. not knowing a word of English and with little understanding of American culture. “In those days the world was less global,” she says. But she soon learned the language and “fell in love with the United States,...
- 3/30/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: A restructure at the company behind Mipcom, Mip TV and associated markets is gathering pace and several people working on the annual TV industry events have left in the past few weeks.
Deadline is aware of around half a dozen staff who have exited and were previously working mainly on the markets in areas such as sales, legal and admin. Others have left Rx France recently but were working across its portfolio of events. Rx France also organizes events in areas such as technology, agriculture and property.
The departures come as a result of a restructure initiated last June when Mip operator Reed Midem merged with Reed Expositions France to form Rx France, which brought together a “portfolio of outstanding brands, leaders in their respective sectors and markets, as well as merging the experience and professionalism of our teams,” according to CEO Michel Filzi’s statement at the time.
Deadline is aware of around half a dozen staff who have exited and were previously working mainly on the markets in areas such as sales, legal and admin. Others have left Rx France recently but were working across its portfolio of events. Rx France also organizes events in areas such as technology, agriculture and property.
The departures come as a result of a restructure initiated last June when Mip operator Reed Midem merged with Reed Expositions France to form Rx France, which brought together a “portfolio of outstanding brands, leaders in their respective sectors and markets, as well as merging the experience and professionalism of our teams,” according to CEO Michel Filzi’s statement at the time.
- 2/14/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Millichip is exiting to “seek new challenges” according to an internal note.
Sky Studios chief content officer Jane Millichip is stepping down from her position after almost a decade at the pay-tv giant.
Millichip is exiting to “seek new challenges” according to an internal note from Sky Studios chief executive Cécile Frot-Coutaz, seen by Broadcast. She will depart in April.
Sky Studios’ editorial execs including UK scripted chiefs Gabriel Silver, Preethi Mavahalli and Jon Mountague, Sky Studios Italy originals chief Nils Hartmann and Rebecca Segal will report directly to Frot-Coutaz.
Meanwhile chief operating officer Caroline Cooper will have an expanded...
Sky Studios chief content officer Jane Millichip is stepping down from her position after almost a decade at the pay-tv giant.
Millichip is exiting to “seek new challenges” according to an internal note from Sky Studios chief executive Cécile Frot-Coutaz, seen by Broadcast. She will depart in April.
Sky Studios’ editorial execs including UK scripted chiefs Gabriel Silver, Preethi Mavahalli and Jon Mountague, Sky Studios Italy originals chief Nils Hartmann and Rebecca Segal will report directly to Frot-Coutaz.
Meanwhile chief operating officer Caroline Cooper will have an expanded...
- 2/8/2022
- by John Elmes Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Sky Studios Chief Content Officer Jane Millichip is departing the Comcast-owned pay-tv giant after nine years amid a wider restructure.
In an internal note sent this morning, seen by Deadline, Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz praised Millichip’s “huge contribution” since she joined to head up production and distribution arm Sky Vision (now Sky Studios) in 2013.
Sky Vision’s revenues skyrocketed from £8M ($10.8M) to £250M ($340M) under Millichip’s leadership, according to Frot-Coutaz, and Millichip has since expanded her role to lead on UK editorial activities that have spawned Sky Studios hits such as A Discovery of Witches and Der Pass.
Frot-Coutaz has restructured the Sky Studios division to “enable us to better deliver on our significant ambition in original content,” with senior execs Gabriel Silver, Preethi Mavahalli, Jon Mountague, Nils Hartmann and Rebecca Segal set to report directly to her when Millichip departs in April.
Chief Operating...
In an internal note sent this morning, seen by Deadline, Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz praised Millichip’s “huge contribution” since she joined to head up production and distribution arm Sky Vision (now Sky Studios) in 2013.
Sky Vision’s revenues skyrocketed from £8M ($10.8M) to £250M ($340M) under Millichip’s leadership, according to Frot-Coutaz, and Millichip has since expanded her role to lead on UK editorial activities that have spawned Sky Studios hits such as A Discovery of Witches and Der Pass.
Frot-Coutaz has restructured the Sky Studios division to “enable us to better deliver on our significant ambition in original content,” with senior execs Gabriel Silver, Preethi Mavahalli, Jon Mountague, Nils Hartmann and Rebecca Segal set to report directly to her when Millichip departs in April.
Chief Operating...
- 2/8/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Sky executive Jane Millichip, a distribution leader and a driving force behind the company’s sustainability drive, is leaving the company after almost 10 years.
News of the executive’s departure was revealed to staff in a memo from Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz on Tuesday morning. Millichip, who currently serves as chief content officer for Sky Studios, is leaving the company after nine years. She first joined the business in 2013.
Millichip, a well-respected executive in the U.K. industry, made her mark at Sky through her leadership of the company’s in-house distribution banner Sky Vision, which was folded into NBCUniversal International Distribution following Comcast’s acquisition of Sky in 2018.
Under Millichip, Sky Vision grew from £8 million ($10.8 million) in revenues to £250 million ($338 million) in just six years. The executive was also key in growing the company’s investments in independent production companies, such as “Great British Bake Off” outfit Love Productions.
News of the executive’s departure was revealed to staff in a memo from Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz on Tuesday morning. Millichip, who currently serves as chief content officer for Sky Studios, is leaving the company after nine years. She first joined the business in 2013.
Millichip, a well-respected executive in the U.K. industry, made her mark at Sky through her leadership of the company’s in-house distribution banner Sky Vision, which was folded into NBCUniversal International Distribution following Comcast’s acquisition of Sky in 2018.
Under Millichip, Sky Vision grew from £8 million ($10.8 million) in revenues to £250 million ($338 million) in just six years. The executive was also key in growing the company’s investments in independent production companies, such as “Great British Bake Off” outfit Love Productions.
- 2/8/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
The Gucci family saga isn’t quite over.
Just months after the release of Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” — a film that could see Lady Gaga nominated for her second Oscar — a TV drama and documentary focusing on the Gucci family is in the works from Comcast-backed Sky Studios.
The company is in early stages of development on a high-end TV series, and is in pre-production on a documentary series, both of which will tell “the story of a great family and a great brand,” says producer Nils Hartmann, senior VP for Sky Studios Germany and Italy.
Both projects were brought roughly a year ago to Sky by Marco Belardi for Leone Film Group, which led to an agreement with several members of the Gucci family, including Alessandro Gucci, Guccio Gucci Jr. and Giorgio Gucci. Giorgio Gucci is a young Italian producer who will serve as executive producer on the still-untitled docuseries.
Just months after the release of Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” — a film that could see Lady Gaga nominated for her second Oscar — a TV drama and documentary focusing on the Gucci family is in the works from Comcast-backed Sky Studios.
The company is in early stages of development on a high-end TV series, and is in pre-production on a documentary series, both of which will tell “the story of a great family and a great brand,” says producer Nils Hartmann, senior VP for Sky Studios Germany and Italy.
Both projects were brought roughly a year ago to Sky by Marco Belardi for Leone Film Group, which led to an agreement with several members of the Gucci family, including Alessandro Gucci, Guccio Gucci Jr. and Giorgio Gucci. Giorgio Gucci is a young Italian producer who will serve as executive producer on the still-untitled docuseries.
- 2/7/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Dazn chair Kevin Mayer and Rene Rechtman, co-founder and CEO of Moonbug Entertainment, will deliver a joint keynote at this year’s in-person MipTV (Apr. 4-6).
Mayer also serves as co-chair and co-ceo of Candle Media, which purchased Moonbug, the company behind the wildly popular children’s show “CoComelon” in Nov. 2021. Moonbug’s content appears in 30 languages and on more than 100 platforms.
The keynote, which will take place on the opening day of the market in the Palais des Festivals, will cover strategy and future plans of the companies along with insights and takes on wider industry trends.
Founded by ex-Disney executives Mayer and Tom Staggs, with backing from private equity firm Blackstone, Candle’s acquisition of Moonbug followed that of Hello Sunshine, the media company founded by Reese Witherspoon (“The Morning Show”) in August last year. Cancle recently completed the acquisition of Israeli production company Faraway Road Productions (“Fauda...
Mayer also serves as co-chair and co-ceo of Candle Media, which purchased Moonbug, the company behind the wildly popular children’s show “CoComelon” in Nov. 2021. Moonbug’s content appears in 30 languages and on more than 100 platforms.
The keynote, which will take place on the opening day of the market in the Palais des Festivals, will cover strategy and future plans of the companies along with insights and takes on wider industry trends.
Founded by ex-Disney executives Mayer and Tom Staggs, with backing from private equity firm Blackstone, Candle’s acquisition of Moonbug followed that of Hello Sunshine, the media company founded by Reese Witherspoon (“The Morning Show”) in August last year. Cancle recently completed the acquisition of Israeli production company Faraway Road Productions (“Fauda...
- 2/1/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Former Disney exec and Dazn Chairman Kevin Mayer, along with Moonbug Entertainment CEO René Rechtman, is to headline this year’s Mip TV.
Mayer, the Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of Candle Media, which acquired Moonbug late last year, will give a keynote alongside Rechtman discussing the strategy and future plans of both Candle and Moonbug.
Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz will also speak at the market, which takes place in early April in person after two years of cancellations.
“It could not be timelier to welcome René and Kevin to the Cannes stage,” said Mip TV director Lucy Smith. “Whilst their new owners are presently the industry’s most high profile, acquisitive startup investing in, and supporting, storytellers whose companies can thrive creatively, commercially, and technically in a future media landscape. It will make for an enlightening and entertaining session.”
Mayer previously worked in senior roles for Disney before joining TikTok...
Mayer, the Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of Candle Media, which acquired Moonbug late last year, will give a keynote alongside Rechtman discussing the strategy and future plans of both Candle and Moonbug.
Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz will also speak at the market, which takes place in early April in person after two years of cancellations.
“It could not be timelier to welcome René and Kevin to the Cannes stage,” said Mip TV director Lucy Smith. “Whilst their new owners are presently the industry’s most high profile, acquisitive startup investing in, and supporting, storytellers whose companies can thrive creatively, commercially, and technically in a future media landscape. It will make for an enlightening and entertaining session.”
Mayer previously worked in senior roles for Disney before joining TikTok...
- 2/1/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz has been selected as the 2022 recipient of the Variety International Achievement in Television Award, to be presented at global content market MipTV in Cannes in April. Frot-Coutaz was the Head of Emea at YouTube and CEO of Fremantle before joining Sky Studios last year.
The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership and innovation in the international television marketplace. In her long and distinguished career, Frot-Coutaz has led some of the TV and streaming industry’s most forward-looking organizations as they evolve in the new media landscape.
This year will mark Frot-Coutaz’s first full year as CEO of Sky Studios, having joined the production arm of Comcast-backed pay-tv operator Sky in September 2021.
In addition to developing, commissioning and producing Sky Original comedy and drama, Frot-Coutaz has responsibility for Sky Studios’ factual output as well as its global portfolio of production companies. This extensive...
The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership and innovation in the international television marketplace. In her long and distinguished career, Frot-Coutaz has led some of the TV and streaming industry’s most forward-looking organizations as they evolve in the new media landscape.
This year will mark Frot-Coutaz’s first full year as CEO of Sky Studios, having joined the production arm of Comcast-backed pay-tv operator Sky in September 2021.
In addition to developing, commissioning and producing Sky Original comedy and drama, Frot-Coutaz has responsibility for Sky Studios’ factual output as well as its global portfolio of production companies. This extensive...
- 1/25/2022
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Studios has appointed chief finance officer Tom Fussell as CEO, more than one year after Tim Davie moved to become Dg.
Fussell has held the interim post since September 2020, overseeing the producer-distributor’s global strategy.
He will lead on the development of ambitious expansion plans as Davie tasks BBC Studios with boosting commercial returns by 30% over the next five years, while also overseeing diversity and inclusion initiatives and multiple other areas of business.
“In the last year, Tom has proven himself an outstanding leader for BBC Studios, steering the company through its most difficult times with both conviction and compassion, and delivering strong results,” said Davie.
Fussell said: “BBC Studios is a core part of the BBC Group and increasingly supports across all its strategic priorities from unique high priority content and impartiality to online and, of course, commercial income. With ambition to serve both British and international audiences in new ways,...
Fussell has held the interim post since September 2020, overseeing the producer-distributor’s global strategy.
He will lead on the development of ambitious expansion plans as Davie tasks BBC Studios with boosting commercial returns by 30% over the next five years, while also overseeing diversity and inclusion initiatives and multiple other areas of business.
“In the last year, Tom has proven himself an outstanding leader for BBC Studios, steering the company through its most difficult times with both conviction and compassion, and delivering strong results,” said Davie.
Fussell said: “BBC Studios is a core part of the BBC Group and increasingly supports across all its strategic priorities from unique high priority content and impartiality to online and, of course, commercial income. With ambition to serve both British and international audiences in new ways,...
- 10/13/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: BBC Studios has gone back out to the market in its search for a new chief executive at the request of new BBC chairman Richard Sharp, Deadline can reveal.
BBC Studios’ hunt for Tim Davie’s successor is now in its tenth month after the £1.4 billion ($2B) production, distribution, and broadcasting empire has been turned down by a string of high-profile executives.
Acting CEO Tom Fussell was recently seen as the frontrunner, with a number of sources expecting him to be handed the job permanently, but Sharp asked BBC Studios to go back to the drawing board after his arrival in February, per two sources.
BBC Studios is said to be casting its recruitment net globally and there is also chatter that former Goldman Sachs banker Sharp may have some candidates in mind from outside of the television industry.
The U.S. is said to be a particular area of focus for BBC Studios,...
BBC Studios’ hunt for Tim Davie’s successor is now in its tenth month after the £1.4 billion ($2B) production, distribution, and broadcasting empire has been turned down by a string of high-profile executives.
Acting CEO Tom Fussell was recently seen as the frontrunner, with a number of sources expecting him to be handed the job permanently, but Sharp asked BBC Studios to go back to the drawing board after his arrival in February, per two sources.
BBC Studios is said to be casting its recruitment net globally and there is also chatter that former Goldman Sachs banker Sharp may have some candidates in mind from outside of the television industry.
The U.S. is said to be a particular area of focus for BBC Studios,...
- 5/17/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
International Insider: Britain Reopens; Golden Globes Reckoning; Sky Studios CEO; ‘365 Days’ Returns
Hello and welcome to International Insider, your weekly dose of film and TV analysis from Deadline’s Euro team. Jake Kanter here to guide you through our usual glut of headlines in the week Disney+ blasted past 100 million subs. Want to get in touch? I’m on jkanter@deadline.com. And sign up here to get this delivered every Friday.
Britain Reopens
Pull up the popcorn: Rejoice! From Monday, Brits can take their seats in cinemas once again as coronavirus restrictions continue to be rolled back across England. It will be a chance for people to watch Oscar winners Nomadland and Minari on the big screen for the first time, with both films debuting in theaters on May 17. Another draw will be Lionsgate’s Spiral: From The Book Of Saw (pictured), which features Samuel L Jackson and Chris Rock as father and son cops. Saw films have grossed almost $1 billion to date.
Britain Reopens
Pull up the popcorn: Rejoice! From Monday, Brits can take their seats in cinemas once again as coronavirus restrictions continue to be rolled back across England. It will be a chance for people to watch Oscar winners Nomadland and Minari on the big screen for the first time, with both films debuting in theaters on May 17. Another draw will be Lionsgate’s Spiral: From The Book Of Saw (pictured), which features Samuel L Jackson and Chris Rock as father and son cops. Saw films have grossed almost $1 billion to date.
- 5/14/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
YouTube exec and former Fremantle CEO to join in September.
Cécile Frot-Coutaz has been appointed CEO of Sky Studios, the production arm of European pay-tv giant Sky.
The current head of YouTube Emea and former CEO of Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz will take up the post in September and also join the group executive board of Comcast-owned Sky.
Replacing the retiring Gary Davey, who launched the division in 2019, Frot-Coutaz will oversee commissioning, funding, development and production of Sky’s scripted originals. She will also “work closely with Sky’s content leads in each market, to deliver premium comedy, drama, and documentary...
Cécile Frot-Coutaz has been appointed CEO of Sky Studios, the production arm of European pay-tv giant Sky.
The current head of YouTube Emea and former CEO of Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz will take up the post in September and also join the group executive board of Comcast-owned Sky.
Replacing the retiring Gary Davey, who launched the division in 2019, Frot-Coutaz will oversee commissioning, funding, development and production of Sky’s scripted originals. She will also “work closely with Sky’s content leads in each market, to deliver premium comedy, drama, and documentary...
- 5/13/2021
- by Alex Farber Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
YouTube executive and former Fremantle boss Cécile Frot-Coutaz has been named CEO of Sky Studios, the heavy-hitting production and development arm for Sky.
Frot-Coutaz takes the reins from current chief executive Gary Davey, who launched Sky Studios in 2019. The long-time Sky executive announced his retirement in December, and will be stepping down later this year following a transition period.
Currently head of YouTube in Emea and formerly CEO of super-indie Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz will sit on Sky’s group executive and will begin in the post in September 2021. The executive was at Fremantle for more than 20 years before stepping down in March 2018 for the YouTube role. She began at the Google-owned platform in 2019.
As CEO, Frot-Coutaz oversees the funding, development, production and commissioning teams for scripted Sky Originals, which are a major priority for the Comcast-backed pay-tv operator, which serves 24 million customers across Europe.
Frot-Coutaz will also take charge...
Frot-Coutaz takes the reins from current chief executive Gary Davey, who launched Sky Studios in 2019. The long-time Sky executive announced his retirement in December, and will be stepping down later this year following a transition period.
Currently head of YouTube in Emea and formerly CEO of super-indie Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz will sit on Sky’s group executive and will begin in the post in September 2021. The executive was at Fremantle for more than 20 years before stepping down in March 2018 for the YouTube role. She began at the Google-owned platform in 2019.
As CEO, Frot-Coutaz oversees the funding, development, production and commissioning teams for scripted Sky Originals, which are a major priority for the Comcast-backed pay-tv operator, which serves 24 million customers across Europe.
Frot-Coutaz will also take charge...
- 5/13/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Sky Studios has secured a big name to succeed outgoing CEO Gary Davey.
The Comcast-owned European content powerhouse has announced the appointment of YouTube Emea chief and former Fremantle boss Cécile Frot-Coutaz. She will join Sky’s production and development division in September after Davey announced his retirement last year.
Deadline understands that Frot-Coutaz has been weighing up a return to traditional television for some time after she held meaningful talks to become the next CEO of BBC Studios last year. She ultimately turned the role down and BBC Studios is yet to name Tim Davie’s successor.
Sky Studios was established in 2019, bringing together the pay-tv giant’s originals commissioning and production under one roof. Frot-Coutaz will oversee an empire behind shows including Gangs Of London and I Hate Suzie.
Sky Studios owns several production companies, not least The Great British Bake Off producer Love Productions, while Frot-Coutaz...
The Comcast-owned European content powerhouse has announced the appointment of YouTube Emea chief and former Fremantle boss Cécile Frot-Coutaz. She will join Sky’s production and development division in September after Davey announced his retirement last year.
Deadline understands that Frot-Coutaz has been weighing up a return to traditional television for some time after she held meaningful talks to become the next CEO of BBC Studios last year. She ultimately turned the role down and BBC Studios is yet to name Tim Davie’s successor.
Sky Studios was established in 2019, bringing together the pay-tv giant’s originals commissioning and production under one roof. Frot-Coutaz will oversee an empire behind shows including Gangs Of London and I Hate Suzie.
Sky Studios owns several production companies, not least The Great British Bake Off producer Love Productions, while Frot-Coutaz...
- 5/13/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast-owned European pay TV giant Sky has named Cécile Frot-Coutaz, former CEO of Fremantle and currently head of YouTube in Europe, the CEO of its production arm Sky Studios, starting in September.
Current Sky Studios CEO Gary Davey, who launched the business in 2019, remains with the company to ensure a smooth transition before retiring later this year.
Frot-Coutaz will “take on the funding, development, production, and commissioning teams for scripted Sky originals, working closely with Sky’s content leads in each market, to deliver premium comedy, drama, and documentary to Sky’s 24 million customers across Europe,” the company said ...
Current Sky Studios CEO Gary Davey, who launched the business in 2019, remains with the company to ensure a smooth transition before retiring later this year.
Frot-Coutaz will “take on the funding, development, production, and commissioning teams for scripted Sky originals, working closely with Sky’s content leads in each market, to deliver premium comedy, drama, and documentary to Sky’s 24 million customers across Europe,” the company said ...
- 5/13/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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