Scripted aims at ‘mainstream escapism, entertainment, big brands, IP,’ says Fremantle's Jens Richter; formats include wondrous BBC, PBS natural history series ‘Earth’s Magic Moments' and Saturday night gameshow ‘Stacks of Cash,’ sold to CBS Galvanized by the weighty sales and deal prospects on its “Baywatch” reboot, Fremantle is set to hit the Croisette with a powerhouse lineup as it drives ever more into “mainstream escapism, entertainment, big brands, IP,” said Fremantle CEO Commercial, International Jens Richter. And the location is truly, outrageously beautiful, Santa Monica beach,” he added. Fremantle will host at its stand a “Baywatch”-themed party on Monday, with some cast in attendance, and a panel on Tuesday.
It’s also Mipcom’s biggest brand. Now it’s a lot easier for everybody if the marketing is actually built into the show already,” Richter added. Fremantle’s drama series lineup has some such cast.
Claire Foy (“The Crown”) and Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”) star in “You Are Here,” from “Normal People” director Lenny Abrahamson and producer Element Pictures. Led by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, Element Pictures also produced “Poor Things,” “The Favourite,” and most recently four-time Oscar nominee “Bugonia.” “Element Pictures is certainly one of the production companies out there that has a great track record and therefore also trust with buyers and talent. We have the BBC and Starz in as co-production partners.
They came in on board early,” said Richter. She created ‘Virgin River’ for Netflix, ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ for us and now at the Upfronts in May, Bell Media, Fremantle and Reel World Management are back together in the next Robyn Carr book, ‘Thunder Point’ and we are in the market pitching.” A twist-sluiced thriller building to a shocking final reveal, another Mipcom title, “The Only Suspect” is produced by Red Planet Pictures, behind BBC fixture “Death in Paradise,” is now in its 15th season and licensed to 230 territories. Two more Mipcom series – family suspense drama “The Cold Song” and gritty urban crime thriller “Side Effects” – are tapped from a third Fremantle company, Scandinavian class-act powerhouse Miso Film, behind “1864,” “Warrior,” The Rain,” “The Investigation” and “Faithless.” “We have had highly premium drama from Miso in the past like ‘The Investigation,’ which back in the day we were able to place with HBO in the U.S., which for a Danish drama is highly unusual,” said Richter.
Only 12-14% of new series premieres each year are based on existing IP but existing IP accounts for 40%-50% of the top 100 most in-demand series, Parrot Analytics Jaime Otero said last week at Iberseries & Platino Industria. Four of Fremantle’s top seven scripted titles at Mipcom adapt novels: “The Only Suspect is ” adapted by Simon Ashdown from the original novel by Louise Candlish and “You Are Here” with David Nicholls writing the eight-part makeover of his own novel. It’s smart,” said Richter.
Bowing on Fox and Sky in January 2027 and show-run by Matt Nix (“The Good Guys,” “The Gifted”), a 12-episode reboot of the hugely iconic, most-watched TV show of its time.
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