Ritchie makes TV move with ESG

Endemol Shine Group’s North American scripted division has agreed an exclusive, multi-year deal with Guy Ritchie and Lionel Wigram’s Ritchie/Wigram Productions.

Guy Ritchie

The partnership with Endemol Shine Studios will focus on developing original scripted franchises for the global TV marketplace and marks the first exclusive TV deal for Ritchie and Wigram under their production banner.

The prodco is behind movies including Sherlock Holmes and is preparing King Arthur – The Legend of the Sword for 2017.

Ritchie will direct and write along with Wigram, while the prodco’s execs Jeff Ludwig and Ivan Atkinson will be responsible for the acquisition and development of new projects for the company in LA and London respectively.

It’s the first development deal for Endemol Shine Studios president Sharon Hall since joining the company in March.

“Guy and Lionel’s brand is undeniable for this new global marketplace,” said Hall, who added that the firm has “identified projects that extend that brand into TV with the same smarts and swagger they are well known for.”

“We are very interested in the creative opportunities inherent in telling stories in a longer format,” said Ritchie and Wigram.

Endemol Shine Studios is behind series including DirecTV’s Kingdom, AMC’s Hell on Wheels and the upcoming Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here and HBO’s Utopia.