WMR packs first scripted punch

Frank Warren and boxer Ricky Hatton

London-based factual indie World Media Rights (WMR) is making its first push into scripted production with a drama series about boxing promoter Frank Warren.

Kings of the Ring (working title) will be set around the life and career of the boxing manager and promoter.

Warren has been in the fight game for 40 years, starting off promoting unlicensed fights in North London and rising all the way to world title fights in Las Vegas involving boxers such as Mike Tyson.

The drama will feature true stories and characters from the world of boxing and is a first scripted production for WMR, which is known for factual series such as Black Ops, Air Crash Confidential and Myth Hunters for channels including Reelz and American Heroes.

The move follows investment in the firm from Germany’s ZDF Enterprises, which took a 32.7% stake for an undisclosed fee in June.

WMR also hired Val Campbell from Ronachan Films as its head of production shortly after that.

Warren said: “I’ve watched plenty of boxing dramas in the past and not one of them rang true. I want this show to be the real deal – just like the boxers: gutsy, edgy and dangerous.”

World Media Rights’ creative director David McNab said: “For dramatic potential it is hard to imagine a more high-octane world than the International boxing scene. Prize fighters live on the emotional and physical edge and the world is populated with the richest characters imaginable. With Frank’s input we expect this series to recreate the visceral and cutthroat world more accurately than ever before.”