Asylum Entertainment invests in Derren Lawford’s UK prodco Dare Pictures

Dare’s Derren Lawford and Asylum Entertainment’s Steve Michaels

Endeavor-backed US unscripted production group Asylum Entertainment Group is making a strategic investment in Derren Lawford-led UK production company Dare Pictures.

The London-based company will use the investment to expand its business. At the same time, its angel investor Rosegown is exiting the business.

Lawford, who is the company’s founder and CEO, will continue to lead day-to-day operations. Michelle Morgan remains chair in the new board structure and moves to company director and minority shareholder of the business.

Recent non-scripted projects from Dare include the miniseries Crypto Queen: Visionary, Victim or Villain? And feature-length documentary Dalton’s Dream. The company was also recently commissioned to produce The Secrets of UK Prisons for Channel 4’s strand Untold.

This marks a third UK investment for Asylum after it previously bought into Soho Studios and Moon&Back Media.

“Derren and his studio exemplify the vision and trajectory we value at Asylum,” said Asylum CEO Steve Michaels. “His enviable track record and diverse interests make him an ideal partner, and we are honored to become an essential part of Dare’s continued growth.”

Lawford added: “Asylum has an undeniable passion to reach audiences through its distinct and impressive IP, a passion we share at Dare.

“Steve is an incredibly shrewd entrepreneur, so the opportunity to evolve our company within Asylum’s unique global network provides us with the perfect platform to create more original and memorable stories from around the world.”