Max Goldbart welcomes you to the International Insider. We’ve been all over the proverbial shop this week with Mel and Jesse in sunny Rome and Zac racing round London at the speed of light to cover LFF. Keep reading for the most important news in international television and film.
Mipcom Cannes back with a bang
Three years discountA sense of excitement is palpable in the TV industry as buyers, sellers, executives, journalists, and all those between, jet to Cannes for Mipcom. This year’s market, rebranded Mipcom Cannes, is effectively the first in person for three years (last year was hybrid) and there was a real sense of positivity when I spoke with five senior sales bosses for my annual preview. “People need people and this is a people business,” Fremantle’s Jens Richter told me, almost beaming. It is possible to feel renewed optimism. ‘market fatigue’This may be a result of years passed. Chatting to execs in the runup to the event, they expect a Mipcom that will be all about the face-to-face interaction, although many stressed that major distributor-to-buyer deals may not make up a huge part of the market – a sign of the times. Mipcom Director Lucy Smith talked up a pivot to co-productions when we chatted last week, helped by a new 1000 sqm Producer’s Hub encouraging indies to discuss upcoming shows with distributors and seek financing in a multitude of different ways.
Blunt-ly: Sunday night’s premiere on Croisette will be a highlight for the Croisette. The English language, Hugo Blick Western will feature Emily Blunt as Emily Blunt. All3Media International is selling the one. Fremantle rival Fremantle is looking to compete by hosting its own Red Carpet Monday with Cara Delevingne and others who will discuss Hulu/BBC Three tellall docs Planet SexAnd earlier in the day Succession Star Brian Cox is the man behind a Channel 5 documentary on poverty, which is looking for international buyers. Fremantle’s Jennifer Mullin and Andrea Scrosati are the keynote speakers this year. Also, Jennifer Salke (Amazon Studios boss), Tim Davie (BBC DG), and Marco Bassetti (Banijay CEO) will be addressing the crowd. It’s quite a lineup. There will also be company launches, with Fox Entertainment Global, a new distributor, launching its stand via a keynote and cocktail party Monday. Fernando Szew, the head of Fox Entertainment Global, told me that the new shingle would be launched earlier this week. “go against the grain”sale to all and any other U.S. media entities “We are arms wide open,”Fernando.
Get Early Deals: While deal-making might not be as popular as it used to in years past, Deadline has managed to bring you some in the lead up. Most buzzy was this scoop from Jesse on Indigo Entertainment boarding sales for Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean’s The Fashion Hero: A New Kind of Beautiful, the latest in Beauty World Search’s Fashion Hero franchise. AJ will be interrupting his European arena tour by flying to Cannes before getting back… alright. Jesse had also the scoop on ITV Studios acquiring distribution rights for ITV’s celebrity drag contest format Queens for the Night I bought the latest on Studiocanal boarding Borgen creator Adam Price’s OrchestraBanijay Rights pushes into premium doc space Lara Vs. Escobar and the same distributor’s balloon format Blower Up Selling to Germany Keep checking back. Meanwhile, don’t miss out on our brandspanking debut Deadline Mipcom print edition, available in Cannes at a hotel or Palais near you. We’ve got mountains of quality content for you to get through including our picks of the best shows at the market, interviews with some of the biggest players out there – including this teaser with Disney EMEA content boss Diego Londono – and tonnes of analysis. Give it a look and make us happy.
‘The Crown’ “On Edge”
“Dreading getting to this point”: Ever since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, times have been tricky for the producers of Netflix’s The Crown They are currently filming season six. Season five will air shortly. After having to postpone filming due to the Queen’s death, a fresh obstacle has emerged in the shape of filming of the scenes of the fateful day 25 years ago when Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. Our Baz Bamigboye’s big scoop of the week found stars, creatives and producers to be “on edge”Preparations are being made to recreate the scene. “We’ve been dreading getting to this point,”Baz was informed by an insider. Baz will not see the actual crash, but instead will chart the events that took place before and after. Filming will take place in the next fortnight before Elizabeth Debicki takes over the Diana role from Emma Corrin. The Crown season five, with Dominic West taking over from Josh O’Connor as then-Prince Charles.
MIA kicks off
Rome-ing around: Jesse Whittock reports from Rome. International entertainment was at its peak when the MIA Market opened and the Rome Film Festivals began. MIA, a heady mix of film and TV sessions held at the stunningly lovely Palazzo Barberini in the center of town, saw the likes of Netflix, Amazon and Sky Studios presenting their latest European wares, with public broadcasters Rai, ZDF and France Télévisions well represented. The first and most important news was not about Italy but Denmark. This is where an exceptional commissioning impasse has been held between global streamers and the creative community since January 1. Read more.
Buzz territories: Amazon executives and Netflix executives met to discuss the region, which has become a hot new territory for streamers along with Germany and Spain. Larry Tanz, Netflix’s EMEA chief, recalled how Italian business used to be done out of “a small townhouse in Amsterdam,”They have little local knowledge or expertise. What a change! Netflix has opened a 70-strong headquarters just below the Barberini at the Trevi Fountain this year.Salvation is at the Heart of EverythingThe service will launch a new series called ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ today. There are also dozens of films and series, including the heist caper.Robbing Mussolini. Amazon’s Prime Video, meanwhile, used its session to reveal Matilda De Angelis (pictured) would star in the Cattleya-produced Italian chapter of the Russo Brothers’ multi-country, multi-series dramaCitadel. It was said by Nicole Morganti, Chief of Amazon Studios Italy Originals. “huge challenge”Due to the fact that no crossbred series of sci-fi/spy thriller/action comedy had ever been attempted in this country. Also, there was a UnanimityThe Alliance is the European public broadcaster commissioning group that was established to combat the streaming media’s buying power. ZDF, Rai and France Télévisions want ideas by the end of January 2023, with that call coming soon after execs from the networks announced they’d boardedThe KollectiveA premium drama series that is based on the Bellingcat investigative journalist organization.
The Tale Of Amazon’s UK Handmaid Deal
Blessed be the copremier: Channel 4’s Handmaid’s Tale acquisition has come to be defined as one of the network’s more shrewd bits of business over the past few years and the show often draws big audiences, but those audiences may be about to shrink with the news that Amazon Prime Video will co-premiere season five in the UK. Amazon currently owns the show. Handmaid’s Tale producer and distributor MGM, giving the all-powerful streamer access to MGM’s worldwide catalog. While insiders sought to quell any sense of a fallout to Deadline, the reality is that one of Channel 4’s hottest international imports now has to be shared with a well-subscribed U.S. giant. Bravo! Amazon also shares a UK Window with the BBC for Terry Pratchett adaptation Good Omens, However, the streamer produced it and aired it months before the BBC.
Where’s North from ‘ere: Meanwhile in Amazon-land, our Asia expert Liz Shackleton sat down with Erika North, the SVoD’Talk to the Head of Originals Asia Pacific about expansion. This is an area of great growth for all U.S. companies. Go deeper.
LFF Latest: Plaza, Roberts & Aronofsky
London calling: Zac Ntim, bring it on, During the second week at the London Film Festival, keynote talks and headline screen talks were the main attraction. Monday:Parks and Recreationfavorite Aubrey Plaza touched down in Soho for a deep dive into her career, while Tuesday saw the in-person return of Film London’s Production Finance Market, which opened with a keynote from BFI CEO Ben Roberts. Ben spoke out for the first time about the closures of the Edinburgh Film Festival. “We don’t have the funds to crisis support organizations that are in difficulty,” he said, before adding that the BFI remains in contact with the festival’s owners and action is being taken. There are many more details to follow on this one. On the screening side, Darren Aronofsky’sThe Whaleplayed the Royal Festival Hall, where lead actor Brendan Fraser received an uncharacteristically long and robust standing ovation from the LFF audience, while this year’s surprise film was the Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes starrer The Menu. The festival closes this weekend with two heavyweight premieres: Guillermo del Toro’sPinocchiodebuts on Saturday, and Rian Johnson’sGlass Onionmakes its European bow on Sunday. Both sides will meet at the ground by midnight.
Diverse Disruptors
Surian will be your partner in crime.: Diana Lodderhose’s International Disruptors series was back with a bang Wednesday and in the hot seat was Surian Fletcher-Jones, the Working Title Television exec responsible for bringing some of the most talented, diverse names in the UK to the fore. “I am obsessed with thinking about female voices, diverse voices and counter-culture and alternative culture,”Surian said to Diana. In recent years she has built a tremendously successful reputation, culminating with BAFTA-winning Channel 4 comedy We are Lady Parts Dolly Alderton semibiopic Everything I Know about LovePlease read the entire article.
The Essentials
🌶️Hot One1973 horror classic The Wicker Man is being remade for TV, with Andy Serkis’ The Imaginarium and Urban Myth Films buying the rights from Studiocanal.
🌶️Another one:Sony Pictures has acquired international rights to Gamestop movie Dumb Money one of the few buzzy packages at last month’s Toronto. Andreas with this cracker.
🌶️Hotter:Zac had the skinny on Boiling Point star Ray Panthaki’s next project, while Panthaki and producer Daniel Khalili’s Naseem Hamed biopic picks up pace.
🖼️ It’s … been castChannel 4 Wagatha Christie Drama: Natalia Tena, Chanel Cresswell were cast as leads. Michael Sheen is a new veteran from the not-for-profit sector. He plays David Sherborne.
🍿 Box office: Parker Finn horror Smile Globally, it was $100M within just two weeks.
🧑🎤 New hostOn Love Island With The Circle Presenter Maya Jama will replace Laura Whitmore.
🏪Establishing a shop: Former Legendary Entertainment exec Vasco Xu and others are forming Conqueror Entertainment. This big deal is Liz Shackleton.
🏆Latest AwardsBerlinale has confirmed an in-person festival in 2023 and launched a TV series award in partnership avec Deadline.
🤝Done dealFor Netflix and Cineworld Knives out Following Glass Onion handing Rian Johnson’s pic a UK theatrical release.
🖊️ Signed up: Netflix is officially part of UK TV ratings agency Barb, coming three years after Reed Hastings said he wanted the streamer to be in the system.
👑 Crowned: May 6 will be the official date of King Charles III’s coronation. Anti-monarchists, look away now.
And last but not leastAngela Lansbury’s Tributes pour in this week Murder She Wrote Star and icon who passed away Tuesday at the age of 96. Although she spent much of her career in the States, Lansbury was born in London and last appeared on the West End in 2014’s Blithe Spirit. West End theaters in London dimmed their lights Wednesday night as a mark of respect. This was a moving moment for the British theatre community. Read more tributes by clicking here.
Jesse Whittock and Zac Ntim contributed to this week’s Insider.