Exclusive: Steve Michaels, boss of Asylum Entertainment Group, is continuing his Endeavor-backed M&a drive.
The company has invested in British production company Soho Studios Entertainment, founded by former Alaska TV and Zodiak exec Ian Lamarra.
It marks the latest investment for Michaels’ group, which bought a stake in Dawn Airey’s British production company Moon&Back Media last September.
It comes nearly a year after WME owner Endeavor acquired a majority stake in Asylum with plans to “supercharge” its footprint with a major M&a drive that has seen it invest in a number of nonscripted businesses.
Soho Studios was founded by Lamarra in 2022 with former Objective Media Group boss Paul Sandler and Money Group Entertainment CEO Francis Ridley as co-founding directors.
Its first series order was for ITV’s The Playboy Bunny Murder, a two-part documentary series from Marcel Theroux, which told the murders of three young women in London,...
The company has invested in British production company Soho Studios Entertainment, founded by former Alaska TV and Zodiak exec Ian Lamarra.
It marks the latest investment for Michaels’ group, which bought a stake in Dawn Airey’s British production company Moon&Back Media last September.
It comes nearly a year after WME owner Endeavor acquired a majority stake in Asylum with plans to “supercharge” its footprint with a major M&a drive that has seen it invest in a number of nonscripted businesses.
Soho Studios was founded by Lamarra in 2022 with former Objective Media Group boss Paul Sandler and Money Group Entertainment CEO Francis Ridley as co-founding directors.
Its first series order was for ITV’s The Playboy Bunny Murder, a two-part documentary series from Marcel Theroux, which told the murders of three young women in London,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
CNN unveiled three new non-fiction series at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront, giving a glimpse of its plans after the unit was greatly scaled back last year.
The projects include Columbia: The Final Flight (working title), which tells the story of the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster. The series is a co-production of CNN Original Series, BBC and Mindhouse Productions, and it being distributed globally by BBC Studios.
TinderBox: Great Moments in Pop Culture (working title) highlights the TV moments that became cultural phenomenons, including Ellen DeGeneres’ coming out on her sitcom, and the first interracial kiss on Star Trek.
Spy Wars (working title) is another co-production with the BBC, telling the story of real life spies in the climax of the Cold War between the West and the East in the early 1980.
Last year, CNN announced that it was ending commissioned projects with outside partners in its Original Series and Original Films units,...
The projects include Columbia: The Final Flight (working title), which tells the story of the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster. The series is a co-production of CNN Original Series, BBC and Mindhouse Productions, and it being distributed globally by BBC Studios.
TinderBox: Great Moments in Pop Culture (working title) highlights the TV moments that became cultural phenomenons, including Ellen DeGeneres’ coming out on her sitcom, and the first interracial kiss on Star Trek.
Spy Wars (working title) is another co-production with the BBC, telling the story of real life spies in the climax of the Cold War between the West and the East in the early 1980.
Last year, CNN announced that it was ending commissioned projects with outside partners in its Original Series and Original Films units,...
- 5/17/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: A Spy Among Friends, the story of British spies Kim Philby and Nicholas Elliott that stars Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce, recently premiered on MGM+.
The series, which is produced by Sony Pictures Television, is based on Ben Macintyre’s eponymous book. Alexander Cary, who exec produced Lewis-fronted Homeland, created the A Spy Among Friends TV series.
Cary and Lewis, who also exec produced the MGM+ period drama, were at Deadline TV Contenders to talk up the show. They are now turning their attention to more Macintryre books for the small screen.
First up is an adaptation of The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War. The book tells the story of Oleg Gordievsky, a former Kgb colonel who became a bureau chief in London and was a double agent, providing information to the British secret intelligence service MI6.
It tells the story of how,...
The series, which is produced by Sony Pictures Television, is based on Ben Macintyre’s eponymous book. Alexander Cary, who exec produced Lewis-fronted Homeland, created the A Spy Among Friends TV series.
Cary and Lewis, who also exec produced the MGM+ period drama, were at Deadline TV Contenders to talk up the show. They are now turning their attention to more Macintryre books for the small screen.
First up is an adaptation of The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War. The book tells the story of Oleg Gordievsky, a former Kgb colonel who became a bureau chief in London and was a double agent, providing information to the British secret intelligence service MI6.
It tells the story of how,...
- 4/16/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Silent Witness Star Emilia Fox To Host True Crime Podcast
Emilia Fox, the star of long-running BBC crime drama Silent Witness, is to host a true crime podcast with leading criminologist, Professor David Wilson. If It Bleeds It Leads will see the pair tackle topical true crime stories dominating headlines and will take a deep dive into true crime-focused entertainment. It will feature guests including former police officers, crime reporters and former offenders and will also discuss true-crime in culture from books, series and films. The series will launch on March 12 via Global and is produced by Alaska TV, the company behind History’s Spy Wars with Damian Lewis and UK talent agency Money Group Entertainment. Chris Baughen, Managing Editor for Global Player said that it would “delve into a subject that keeps millions of us enthralled and intrigued”, while Alaska TV co-founder and creative director Ian Lamarra said that...
Emilia Fox, the star of long-running BBC crime drama Silent Witness, is to host a true crime podcast with leading criminologist, Professor David Wilson. If It Bleeds It Leads will see the pair tackle topical true crime stories dominating headlines and will take a deep dive into true crime-focused entertainment. It will feature guests including former police officers, crime reporters and former offenders and will also discuss true-crime in culture from books, series and films. The series will launch on March 12 via Global and is produced by Alaska TV, the company behind History’s Spy Wars with Damian Lewis and UK talent agency Money Group Entertainment. Chris Baughen, Managing Editor for Global Player said that it would “delve into a subject that keeps millions of us enthralled and intrigued”, while Alaska TV co-founder and creative director Ian Lamarra said that...
- 2/11/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Channel 5 Plans Feature-Length Princess Diana Film
ViacomCBS-owned Channel 5 has commissioned a documentary that will tell the inside story of Princess Diana’s explosive BBC Panorama interview in 1995, during which she was candid about her faltering relationship with Prince Charles. Diana: The Interview That Shocked The World will premiere on October 11 and is produced by Rogan Productions. Channel 5 commissioner Daniel Pearl said: “This is an incredibly compelling and empowering film, looking back at this iconic interview 25 years on, and shining a light on revelations that have never been uncovered before.”
My5 Signs Up AMC Channels
Channel 5 streamer My5 has struck a deal with AMC Networks International to launch CBS Reality and Horror Channel as branded channels on its service. The channels, a joint venture between ViacomCBS and AMC in the UK, will bring 400 additional hours of content to My5 over the next year, including original true-crime series Murder by the Sea...
ViacomCBS-owned Channel 5 has commissioned a documentary that will tell the inside story of Princess Diana’s explosive BBC Panorama interview in 1995, during which she was candid about her faltering relationship with Prince Charles. Diana: The Interview That Shocked The World will premiere on October 11 and is produced by Rogan Productions. Channel 5 commissioner Daniel Pearl said: “This is an incredibly compelling and empowering film, looking back at this iconic interview 25 years on, and shining a light on revelations that have never been uncovered before.”
My5 Signs Up AMC Channels
Channel 5 streamer My5 has struck a deal with AMC Networks International to launch CBS Reality and Horror Channel as branded channels on its service. The channels, a joint venture between ViacomCBS and AMC in the UK, will bring 400 additional hours of content to My5 over the next year, including original true-crime series Murder by the Sea...
- 10/1/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Chernobyl and The Virtues were the big winners at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards in London on Friday.
Chernobyl, the Sister Pictures series for Sky and HBO on the Soviet nuclear disaster, won Best Drama Series, while writer Craig Mazin took home Best Writer, beating Fleabag scribe Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
More from Deadline'Stranger Things' Season 4: 'Fleabag's Brett Gelman Upped To Series Regular'Fleabag' & 'Chernobyl' Battle For Broadcasting Press Guild Awards'Sex Education': Netflix Renews British Comedy For Third Season
Shane Meadows’ Channel 4 show The Virtues claimed the prize for Best Single Drama/Mini-Series, while Stephen Graham won Best Actor for his performance as an alcoholic man haunted by his past. The award was also recognition of Graham’s work in Line Of Duty and A Christmas Carol.
Other winners included Fleabag for Best Comedy and For Sama for Best Single Documentary/Mini-Series, while two-time Oscar-winner Glenda Jackson was...
Chernobyl, the Sister Pictures series for Sky and HBO on the Soviet nuclear disaster, won Best Drama Series, while writer Craig Mazin took home Best Writer, beating Fleabag scribe Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
More from Deadline'Stranger Things' Season 4: 'Fleabag's Brett Gelman Upped To Series Regular'Fleabag' & 'Chernobyl' Battle For Broadcasting Press Guild Awards'Sex Education': Netflix Renews British Comedy For Third Season
Shane Meadows’ Channel 4 show The Virtues claimed the prize for Best Single Drama/Mini-Series, while Stephen Graham won Best Actor for his performance as an alcoholic man haunted by his past. The award was also recognition of Graham’s work in Line Of Duty and A Christmas Carol.
Other winners included Fleabag for Best Comedy and For Sama for Best Single Documentary/Mini-Series, while two-time Oscar-winner Glenda Jackson was...
- 3/13/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Fleabag and Chernobyl, two of the breakout Brit hits of 2019, will be competing for prizes at the 46th annual Broadcasting Press Guild Awards in London on March 13.
Sky and HBO’s Chernobyl scooped more nominations than any other show, and will compete in four categories including Best Drama Series at the awards, which are voted on by the UK’s best television, radio and media journalists.
Craig Mazin is up for Best Writer for his gripping retelling of the Soviet nuclear disaster, while Jared Harris and Emily Watson are competing for Best Actor and Best Actress respectively.
Mazin will go up against Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the writing category, while the second season of her BBC Three/Amazon series is also nominated for Best Comedy. Fleabag‘s third nomination is for ‘Hot Priest’ Andrew Scott in the Best Actor category.
Both shows have been hot tickets during awards season,...
Sky and HBO’s Chernobyl scooped more nominations than any other show, and will compete in four categories including Best Drama Series at the awards, which are voted on by the UK’s best television, radio and media journalists.
Craig Mazin is up for Best Writer for his gripping retelling of the Soviet nuclear disaster, while Jared Harris and Emily Watson are competing for Best Actor and Best Actress respectively.
Mazin will go up against Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the writing category, while the second season of her BBC Three/Amazon series is also nominated for Best Comedy. Fleabag‘s third nomination is for ‘Hot Priest’ Andrew Scott in the Best Actor category.
Both shows have been hot tickets during awards season,...
- 2/13/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Damian Lewis’ spy documentary series is going global with a slew of international sales. Damien Lewis: Spy Wars has been picked up in markets including Canada and China.
A+E Network has sold the show to Bilibil.com in China, Blue Ant in Canada, Pop TV in Slovenia, Historia & Atres Media in Spain and Tvnz in New Zealand.
This comes after Deadline revealed that Smithsonian Channel has picked it up for the U.S.
Spy Wars, which is the Homeland star’s first foray into factual television, is an eight-part documentary series about spies that originally was commissioned by A+E Networks’ UK network History. The docu-drama will tell the true stories behind some of the most important international spy operations of the past 40 years.
It is produced by Alaska TV, the British production company responsible for series including BBC Earth’s Fishing Impossible and Channel 4 comedy series Very British Problems,...
A+E Network has sold the show to Bilibil.com in China, Blue Ant in Canada, Pop TV in Slovenia, Historia & Atres Media in Spain and Tvnz in New Zealand.
This comes after Deadline revealed that Smithsonian Channel has picked it up for the U.S.
Spy Wars, which is the Homeland star’s first foray into factual television, is an eight-part documentary series about spies that originally was commissioned by A+E Networks’ UK network History. The docu-drama will tell the true stories behind some of the most important international spy operations of the past 40 years.
It is produced by Alaska TV, the British production company responsible for series including BBC Earth’s Fishing Impossible and Channel 4 comedy series Very British Problems,...
- 10/11/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Actor, tipped as the new Bond, tells of his new docudrama series Spy Wars – and his take on Ian Fleming’s hero
His award-winning performances have included the hit espionage drama series Homeland and he is among actors tipped to take over from Daniel Craig as James Bond. Now Damian Lewis has taken on his first role in a television docudrama about spies, whom he describes as “often quite grubby and banal”, a world away from the glamour of 007.
The Hollywood star presents and produces the eight-part show about some of the most significant espionage operations of the last 40 years. The series features undercover agents – some still identified only by their code names – who were persuaded to tell their stories for the first time.
His award-winning performances have included the hit espionage drama series Homeland and he is among actors tipped to take over from Daniel Craig as James Bond. Now Damian Lewis has taken on his first role in a television docudrama about spies, whom he describes as “often quite grubby and banal”, a world away from the glamour of 007.
The Hollywood star presents and produces the eight-part show about some of the most significant espionage operations of the last 40 years. The series features undercover agents – some still identified only by their code names – who were persuaded to tell their stories for the first time.
- 9/21/2019
- by Dalya Alberge
- The Guardian - Film News
Damian Lewis: Spy Wars producer Alaska TV is sniffing out a U.S. sale of its latest format – a docu-series that takes four cocaine users on a dangerous journey to Colombia to learn about the effects of the class A drug.
This comes after Viacom’s Channel 5 commissioned three-part series Doing Drugs For Fun and Wme will help shop the format and finished tape of the show to U.S. broadcasters. Stateside, it will be known as Cocaine: Living With The Cartels.
Alaska’s Brighton-based division is producing the series, which distributor Drive will sell internationally outside of the UK and U.S. The series was commissioned by Emma Westcott for Channel 5 and it is exec produced by Alaska co-founder Chris Fouracre and Creative Director Ian Lamarra.
The formatted documentary takes four recreational cocaine users on a journey to discover the true cost of their party lifestyles. They go on an immersive,...
This comes after Viacom’s Channel 5 commissioned three-part series Doing Drugs For Fun and Wme will help shop the format and finished tape of the show to U.S. broadcasters. Stateside, it will be known as Cocaine: Living With The Cartels.
Alaska’s Brighton-based division is producing the series, which distributor Drive will sell internationally outside of the UK and U.S. The series was commissioned by Emma Westcott for Channel 5 and it is exec produced by Alaska co-founder Chris Fouracre and Creative Director Ian Lamarra.
The formatted documentary takes four recreational cocaine users on a journey to discover the true cost of their party lifestyles. They go on an immersive,...
- 7/4/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
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