Endeavor Content finds Hope with Russia’s Start, picks up Cash in the Attic

Hope stars Victoria Isakova and is Endeavor’s first Russian-language series acquisition

Endeavor Content in the US has acquired global rights to Russian streaming service Start’s action drama series Hope and both the original UK version of long-running format Cash in the Attic and its US adaptation.

Described as a cat-and-mouse thriller, Hope marks Endeavor’s first Russian-language series acquisition and is set between brutal and lawless 1990s Russia and the present day.

It follows a ruthless and conflicted assassin, played by Victoria Isakova, who is part of a criminal organisation she was forced to work for as a teenager in exchange for getting out of prison.

The series was directed by Elena Hazanov and produced by Start, which was co-founded by Russian film studio Yellow, Black & White. It joins the likes of Killing Eve, Normal People and The Night Manager on Endeavor’s distribution slate.

Liz Tang, director of content at Endeavor Content, said: “The Russian market is full of robust scripted formats which we’ve been tracking with a keen eye, and this script in particular speaks to Endeavor Content’s focus on elevating female and underrepresented voices.”

Daria Bondarenko, executive VP of international sales and acquisitions at Start, added: “Hope is a cinematic series with a compelling plot that will appeal in every continent. We know it will have viewers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds and they become invested in the complex characters.”

In related news, Endeavor Content has come on board the US version of Cash in the Attic (6×30′) from Argonon-owned Leopard USA and its commissioning broadcaster, Discovery-owned HGTV.

The format, which launches in the US this week, was originally produced by Leopard Films in the UK and aired in more than 160 countries.

Endeavor Content will handle rest-of-world sales of both the finished tape and format rights to both the adaptation and the original version, which ran to nearly 600 episodes over 18 seasons on the BBC.

Hosted by Courtney Tezeno, HGTV’s version sees a collection of passionate appraisers who are all experts in their field cast their eyes over people’s potentially lucrative wares.

Prentiss Fraser, executive VP of TV distribution at Endeavor Content, said: “Cash in the Attic is a proven international hit format, one of only a small handful of titles that have run for over a decade, has standalone episodes which are affordable to produce and really showcases local stories that can be adapted to each market.”

“We have all spent the last few years thinking about what is truly important to us, clearing out closets and dreaming up plans for the future, so Cash in the Attic is more relevant than ever.”

The new Cash in the Attic series is executive produced by Lindsay Schwartz and James Burstall and the showrunner is Gabe Cunningham.