HBO Max takes Pursuit of Love, Smother in first content deal with BBC Studios

Emily Beecham and Lily James in The Pursuit of Love

MIPCOM: WarnerMedia-owned streamer HBO Max in Latin America has picked up over 100 hours of premium scripted, children’s and factual content from BBC Studios (BBCS).

Drama acquired by the SVoD platform at Mipcom includes the adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel The Pursuit of Love, starring Lily James, Emily Beecham and Dominic West, produced by Open Book Productions and Moonage Pictures, and investigative thriller Smother, produced by BBCS and Treasure Entertainment.

Meanwhile, Jungle Entertainment-produced psychological mystery Wakefield examines the fine line between sanity and madness through the staff and patients of a psychiatric hospital in Australia’s Blue Mountains, while Jimmey McGovern’s Time is about the impact of prison and stars Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. The series is produced by BBCS.

In the comedy space, HBO Max in Latin America has picked up The Outlaws from writer and director Stephen Merchant and Elgin James. Produced by Big Talk with Four Eyes, the series follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol and stars Christopher Walken.

As for unscripted, BBCS has sold The Trump Show, produced by 72 Films, which tells the story of the man who became president against all expectations, and Greta Thunburg: A Year to Change the World, produced by BBCS and coproduced by Hulu and PBS in association with B-Reel Films.

Finally, HBO Max in Latin America will stream preschool series Hey Duggee, a Studio AKA-produced series about a big, loveable dog that encourages children to try new things.

Dina Vangelisti, executive VP of content sales at BBCS Americas, said: “Latin America is a growing, vibrant, diverse community and it was crucial to us to find the best-in-class home for our content in the market. Expanding our relationship with WarnerMedia and HBO Max, we can reach Latin American fans who are eager and excited for new British programming and compelling storytelling.”