Banijay UK strikes development deal with Ellie Wood’s production company Clearwood Films
Banijay UK has agreed a development deal with Ellie Wood, the producer behind BAFTA-nominated Netflix film The Dig and ITV/BritBox series Stonehouse, and her company Clearwood Films.
Under the terms of the deal, Clearwood Films will have access to funding to develop ideas and treatments, as well as support from central Banijay UK resources including finance, legal and business affairs. Once a project is greenlit, Clearwood will have the option to partner with Banijay UK companies to coproduce it.
This agreement follows on from a first-look deal between Banijay Rights, Banijay Entertainment’s distribution arm, and Clearwood Films, that ran from 2019. Banijay Rights will continue to distribute Clearwood projects.
The first project in development under the terms of the deal is underway following the acquisition of the rights to Barbara Pym novel Excellent Women, with the option to develop further Pym books.
Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland said: “Ellie is a brilliant producer with an established reputation for creating standout, high-quality drama. Banijay Rights have had a successful first-look deal in place with Clearwood, working with Ellie on projects including Stonehouse, and we are delighted to be backing her vision.”
Wood added: “I’m thrilled to be working with Patrick and continuing Clearwood Films’ partnership with the wider Banijay family. I’m particularly excited to be developing the novels of one of my favourite authors, the inimitable Barbara Pym.”
Forthcoming Clearwood Films projects include an as-yet-unannounced single scripted project for a linear broadcaster, while Wood is exec producer on Film4‘s adaptation of Deborah Levy’s novel Hot Milk, starring Emma Mackey, Fiona Shaw and Vicky Krieps.
Meanwhile, 49 Days, a Banijay-backed political drama by writer John Preston, is also in development. It focuses on the brief time UK politician Liz Truss spent as prime minister.
