New properties setting out to conquer London
LONDON TV SCREENINGS: Some of the world’s biggest distributors have unveiled new slates as buyers from around the world descend on the UK capital ahead of this week’s screening bonanza. Here, C21 picks out some hot properties from the new programming on offer.
King & Conqueror (8×60′)
Producers: The Development Partnership, Rabbit Track Pictures, Shepherd Content, RVK Studios, CBS Studios, BBC Studios
Distributor: Paramount Global Content Distribution
They say: “King & Conqueror will bring Harold and William to life, depicting their lives, loves and families, and the gripping, high stakes power game that led to their fateful meeting in 1066.”
We say: This historical epic stars James Norton (Happy Valley) as Harold, Earl of Wessex, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) as William, Duke of Normandy, a duo whose struggle for power across two countries and a raging sea led them to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, changing the course of English and European history forever.
Wild Cherry (6×60′)
Producer: Firebird Pictures
Distributor: BBC Studios
They say: “A provocative and deliciously honest look at mother/daughter relationships in a haze of social media, hidden apps and peer pressure that asks: how far will we go to protect our children?”
We say: With potentially huge multi-generational appeal, this series follows a self-made, successful black businesswoman from South London and her best friend, a woman born into the privileged gated community they both call home, whose daughters are implicated in a shocking scandal at their exclusive private school.
The Death of Bunny Munro (6×45′)
Producers: Clerkenwell Films, Sky Studios
Distributor: NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution
They say: “It’s a brilliant exploration of love, grief, and chaos. At its heart a deep, difficult, and tender story about a father and son, coping with loss and change.”
We say: Who wouldn’t want to see Matt Smith (The Crown, House of the Dragon) play a sex addict and door-to-door beauty product salesman who finds himself saddled with his young son after his wife’s death by suicide? This adaptation of iconic musician Nick Cave’s 2009 novel was commissioned by Sky and promises plenty of dark comedy amid the gritty drama.
The Bitter Pill (1×99′)
Producer: Parkside Films
Distributor: Fifth Season
They say: “With his hometown ravaged by the opioid epidemic, plaintiff attorney Paul Farrell Jr sets out to take on giant pharmaceutical companies to recover enough money to make a lasting impact on recovery efforts in the area.”
We say: Director Clay Tweel, who has a knack for telling poignant and complicated character-based stories, captures the relentless courage of a small-town lawyer seeking to effect change not just for his hometown but for the entire nation amid the opioid crisis in this powerful documentary.
Danger in the Valley (6×52′)
Producers: Cinétévé, Be-Films
Distributor: France TV Distribution
They say: “A village is deeply divided: some support the a drilling project, while others vehemently oppose it, led by a defiant mayor. But as she fights to stop the project, she becomes the target of shadowy threats. In this high-stakes battle, the cost of resistance may be far greater than she ever expected.”
We say: Set to air on France 2 later this year, this drama sees bestselling French author Michel Bussi re-team with Christian Cléres after Prison Island and follows events in a quiet village threatened by a shale gas drilling project led by a billionaire engineer.
Other People’s Money (8×60′)
Producers: X Filme Creative Pool, True Content Entertainment, EPO-Film
Distributor: Beta Film
They say: “From the producers of Babylon Berlin, the story of the biggest tax fraud in European history and how two women fought to put an end to it.”
We say: Inspired by the true story of a criminal network of megarich investors, bankers and lawyers who stole €146bn (US$152bn) from European taxpayers, this series is backed by a host of European public broadcasters via New8, the copro alliance that counts NRK, SVT, RUV, YLE, NPO, VRT, DR and ZDF among its members.
Extreme Planet Earth (6×60′)
Producer: Plimsoll Productions
Distributor: ITV Studios
They say: “Witness the scale and ferocity of nature’s most powerful forces – from hurricanes and flash floods to droughts and bushfires – and discover the ingenious ways nature endures, adapts and prevails against these new extremes.”
We say: This landmark series, filmed over three years for ITV in the UK and ARD in Germany, reveals how nature is fighting back against today’s extreme weather and highlights how the climate emergency is disrupting the lives of animals around the world, from elephants in Borneo to wombats in Australia.
Never Get Busted! (1×90′)
Producer: Projector Films
Distributor: Blue Ant Media
They say: “The incredible story of a highly decorated Texas narcotics officer who turns on the police force, busting crooked cops and teaching drug users how to hide their stash.”
We say: Filmed over five years, four countries and nine US states, this is the story of drug reform activist, YouTuber and filmmaker Barry Cooper’s fight to bust crooked cops after he quits the force and launches a reverse sting operation that reveals cops planting drugs on an innocent woman.
Sunny Nights (8×60′)
Producers: Jungle Entertainment, Echo Lake Entertainment
Distributor: Cineflix Rights
They say: “A darkly comedic crime drama about a strait-laced American who teams up with his loose cannon sister to set up a spray tan business in Sydney.”
We say: One of the latest originals from Aussie streamer Stan, this series is directed and executive produced by Trent O’Donnell (Colin From Accounts) and follows a pair of siblings, played by US comedy royalty Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) and D’Arcy Carden (Nobody Wants This), as they become tangled up in Sydney’s criminal underworld.
The Pelicot Rape Case: A Town on Trial (1×90′)
Producer: ITN Productions
Distributor: Orange Smarty
They say: “The film uncovers how these crimes could have gone unreported for so many years, what it means for how sexual assault is viewed in France and the rest of the world and what hard questions men need to ask themselves about modern masculinity.”
We say: This documentary from Channel 5 in the UK examines the awful crimes of Dominique Pelicot in contrast to the dignity and bravery of his ex-wife, Gisèle, who was covertly drugged and raped by her husband on numerous occasions over a nine-year period in one of the most shocking crimes in French legal history.
This Is Not a Murder Mystery (6×60′)
Producers: Panenka, Proximus, Deadpan Pictures
Distributor: StudioCanal
They say: “We were immediately drawn by the idea of doing a surreal murder mystery. It’s a very recognisable whodunit, but with a very surreal twist.”
We say: Belgian pubcaster VRT’s first English-language original scripted series, this crime drama set in 1936 is a coproduction with Ireland and counts RTL in Belgium and pubcaster alliance New8 among its backers after they look to capitalise on demand for Agatha Christie-style investigations.
Diddy: In Plain Sight (1×60’)
Producer: Lion TV
Distributor: All3Media International
They say: The horrific allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have made global headlines. With his trial set for May, Lion TV’s must-see documentary reaches beyond the story of one man, to bring to light the complicity of so many people around him.
We say: Set to air on Channel 4 later this year, this doc will explore why so many people, motivated by fame, money and power, turned a blind eye to his behaviour as he faces criminal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Swiped (2×45’/format)
Producer: Boldprint Studios
Distributor: Fremantle
They say: “Tackles the timely issue of the impact of smartphones on children’s brains and behaviour through a pioneering social experiment.”
They say: Tapping into the worldwide debate about the appropriate age for smartphone access, this two-part documentary aired on Channel 4 in the UK and Fremantle is seeking to repeat the social experiment, which saw hosts Matt and Emma Willis challenge a group of pupils – and themselves – to give up their smartphones completely for 21 days.
Revealed: How to Poison a Planet (1×78′)
Producer: iKandy Films,
Distributor: TVF International
They say: “People made the decision to go forward with putting these chemicals in our environment. They knew what they were doing… You can’t help but ask, what kind of people do that?”
We say: With the UK’s toxic waste scandal set to be thrust into the public conscience with the eagerly-anticipated Netflix drama Toxic Town later this month, this documentary from Aussie streamer Stan sees Mark Ruffalo (Dark Waters) investigate the global contamination of drinking water with PFAS and “forever chemicals” by US chemical conglomerate, 3M, alongside the real-life lawyer he played in Dark Waters.
The Rest Of Your Life (3×28’/format)
Producer: Pineapple Entertainment
Distributor: Banijay Entertainment
They say: “An empowering and emotionally compelling reality format that helps people break free from unfulfilling habits and take control of their future.”
We say: Launching on DR in Denmark, this format follows real people as they confront life’s biggest challenges, from work-life balance and family pressures to modern struggles like phone addiction, gaining expert advice, practical tools and emotional support as they learn to make meaningful, lasting changes to enhance wellbeing.
