Actor Morrissey launches UK indie

Actor David Morrissey is joining forces with three decorated producers to launch his own UK-based indie, and has already secured a first look deal with BBC Worldwide (BBCWW).

On the Corner has been set up by Morrissey alongside Bafta-winning producers Jolyon Symonds (Complicit, The Driver), James Gay-Rees (Exit Through The Gift Shop, Senna) and director Asif Kapadia (Senna).

The firm says it will develop scripted and non-scripted content for both the small and big screen.

Kapadia and Gay-Rees will develop its slate of feature films and factual content for TV, while Symonds and Morrissey will oversee scripted content for TV, with BBC Drama exec Mike Ellen joining the company as head of development.

Alongside the two-year deal with the commercial arm of the BBC, the prodco has also signed development deals with two unnamed UK broadcasters on a six-part series with Tim Firth (Calendar Girls) and a one-off drama written by Danny Brocklehurst (The Driver).

Morrissey said that after 30 years in the industry “it was a natural progression for me to become involved with the creation of drama from its concept to delivery and beyond.”

The actor and producer currently stars in The Walking Dead and has also played leads in BBC series such as The 7.39, The Driver and the original State of Play.

BBCWW last month agreed a first-look development deal with Death in Paradise producer Red Planet Pictures that will see it help finance future productions.