Viaplay Creates True-Life Disaster Story ‘Roombeek’The Latest Original Drama Series from the Netherlands
Viaplay has ordered the latest Dutch original from Viaplay: a four-part drama by Banjiay Benelux label EndemolShine. It is a scripted drama about the 2000 Enschede fireworks warehouse blast. Roombeek. The terrible tragedy left 23 people dead and 950 injured. The series will examine the human consequences and their aftermath. Casting for the series is underway, and production will begin in early 2023, with EndemolShine Scripted’s Gerd-Jan van Dalen and Viaplay Group’s Kennard Bos producing. Having launched in the Netherlands in March, Viaplay’s scripted original slate from the territory includes true crime drama Hunt for Jasper SProduced by Pieter Kuijpers and Willem Bosch; dark comedy Something Stupid, created by novelist Saskia Noort; and Liesbeth Strik’s drama The Guilty. Filippa Wallestam, ViaplayThe Group Chief Content Officer stated: “We have very high ambitions for our Dutch Originals, and are committed to working with both established and upcoming local talents to tell unique stories that can attract a broad audience. Roombeekwill be a sensitive and high-quality production that looks beyond the headlines to show us some of the human lives affected by a tragic event.”
Ireland’s Largest Production Studio Hammerlake Gets Planning Approval
Ireland’s plans for the country’s largest film studio have taken a step forward as the planning application for Hammerlake Studios was given approval by a local council. The final decision regarding permission will be made in September. The 25-acre TV, film, and content production campus is located in Co Westmeath. It is approximately 55 minutes from Dublin Airport. It is designed to attract productions from Hollywood as well as other countries. Construction is planned to take place in two phases, with the first commencing in Q1 2024 and planned for a year’s build, and the second will add seven studios to the campus, bringing its total square footage to 460,000. This approval will be given in the summer of 2023, with work beginning in 2025. The project’s executives have worked with Disney, Universal Pictures and Troy Studios.
Producer Mahesh Danannavar To Remake Yash’s Kannada Film ‘Googly’
Indian producer Mahesh Danannavar’s MD Media Corp has acquired the remake rights to Kannada-language rom-com GooglyIn Hindi, Gujarati Marathi, Marathi and Punjabi as well as other north Indian languages. Danannavar is fresh off a festival run for his Gujarati film. Gandhi & Coand will next remake GooglyPavan Wadeyar directed and wrote the film. It featured Kannada film icons Yash Kharbanda and Sadhu Kukila as leads. Cast and crew details are still to be finalised. “We will soon make a more detailed announcement but this is truly an exciting time for all makers,”Danannavar. “Actors, producers, storytellers are now truly consolidating various industries into one powerful entity called the Indian film industry where we can collaborate across regions and create content that transcends all barriers. This film will be a perfect example of this synergy.”
BBC Hires Channel 4 Comm Ed Jonathan Rothery as Head Of Pop Music, TV
Jonathan Rothery, a long-serving Channel 4 Commissioning Editor, will be returning to BBC. He first left the Corporation back in 2004. He was appointed Head of Pop Music TV under the direction of Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music. Rothery will be focusing on pop music commissions on TV, BBC iPLayer, and digital platforms. He will also work with radio and BBC Sounds to complete projects. He will start Monday, September 12. Rothery, who called the new position a “deam role,”After 10 years as a Commissioning Editor at Channel 4, he joined the station after having ordered shows such a Four to the Floor, John and Yoko: Above Us Only SkyAnd George Michael: Freedom.In 2018, he also ordered popular entertainment shows, such as Sunday Brunch, Tattoo Fixers, 8 out of 10 Cats, Joe Lycett’s Got Your BackThe Roku co-funded reality series “Reality Series” Tempting Fortune. He worked for Sky before Channel 4 and was a freelance producer. He had previously left BBC Music Entertainment 18-years ago.