Fremantle duo adapt Death at SeaWorld

Fremantle-owned companies The Apartment and Castlefield have secured the rights to turn David Kirby’s Death at SeaWorld book into a drama series.

The duo will produce a 10-part series with showrunner Simon Allen (Das Boot, The Watch, Spotless) based on the investigative book, which preceded hit documentary Blackfish.

Released in 2013, Blackfish focused on the captivity of Tilikum, an orca involved in the deaths of three people, and the consequences of keeping orcas in captivity.

The deal was brokered on behalf of Kirby by Allison Warren and Todd Shuster of Aevitas Creative Management. Production on Death at SeaWorld is intended to begin in late 2021.

Set against 40 tumultuous years of history, activism and scandal, Death at SeaWorld follows five people whose lives intertwine then collide after Dawn Brancheau is killed by Tilikum in 2010.

Lorenzo Mieli, CEO of The Apartment, said: “Death at SeaWorld will not only be a searingly relevant prestige television event but also an inspiring rallying call to protect the beauty and wonder of our troubled planet.”

The Apartment has been behind Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino’s The Young Pope and The New Pope, and My Brilliant Friend by Saverio Costanzo, while Castlefield is led by Bafta-winning producers Hilary Martin and Simon Judd.