Eagle Eye Drama launches Belgian English-language prodco Happy Duck Films

Ben Miller in Professor T which debuted on ITV

Eagle Eye Drama, the UK prodco set up by the team behind international drama brand Walter Presents, is launching a production company in Belgium called Happy Duck Films.

Eagle Eye has partnered with director Dries Vos (The Day, Professor T, Suspect) and line producer Hiskia Van Aert (Undercover, Tabula Rasa, Rough Justice) to form the venture.

The company will be based in Flanders and will produce a wide range of English-language content with creative talent from Flanders and beyond. Vos will be MD of Happy Duck Films, with Eagle Eye’s head of production, Isobel Nicholson, also sitting on the board of directors.

The move comes after Eagle Eye Drama, set up in 2019 by CEO Walter Iuzzolino, chief creative officer Jo McGrath and chief operating officer Jason Thorp, previously adapted Belgian drama Professor T for the UK’s ITV under the same name.

McGrath said: “When we set up Eagle Eye three years ago, our core aspiration was to break exciting new talent into the UK production community. We were determined to look beyond our shores and to utilise wonderful high-calibre creatives from Europe and around the world who could bring a fresh tone and feel to the screen.

“We have always been drawn to Flanders as a rich source of strong creatives in all disciplines of scripted programme-making, so the region was always likely to be the natural next step in our growth trajectory. Dries’ reputation as one of the very best directors in Flanders will ensure Happy Duck Films is a magnet for new talent and will keep Eagle Eye on the edge of creative, artistic and commercial innovation.”

Vos added: “Working with Eagle Eye over the past two years was an exciting opportunity to bring some of the best creatives from Flanders into the prestigious arena of English-language programme making. The new venture will take our shared ambition to the next level, becoming a gateway for the best and most visionary talent from Flanders, Belgium and beyond to create a rich slate of great British shows.”