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Kudos veteran launches own firm

Kudos exec producer Derek Wax is launching his own drama-focused production company, which will sit within parent Endemol Shine Group.

Derek Wax

Derek Wax

Wild Mercury will be run independently by Wax but will use Endemol Shine-owned Kudos’s production infrastructure, with a base in the UK prodco’s offices.

It has already started working on Troy – Fall of a City, which was greenlit by BBC1 last year and is being produced in association with Kudos. Wax will also remain executive producer on Kudos drama Humans II, which is in production for Channel 4.

The fledgling outfit is also developing the Cicero project, an adaptation of Robert Harris’s trilogy of political thrillers set in Ancient Rome, with Kudos, while a slate of ‘contemporary dramas’ are also on the prodco’s development book.

Wax joined Kudos in 2005 after producing Sally Wainwright’s Sparkhouse at Red Productions for BBC1.

His credits at Kudos include the first run of Humans, BBC2’s The Hour and the recent adaptation of John Lanchester’s novel Capital for BBC1.

Wax said he was looking forward to “creating bold, original dramas with the best writing talent on projects which will truly resonate with audiences in the UK and around the world.”

Diederick Santer, Kudos CEO, added: “Derek is one of the most in-demand and talented creatives in TV drama, so we’re delighted that as he kicks off Wild Mercury, Kudos is able to continue working with him, building on our 10-year association. We look forward to a whole new wave of extraordinary drama.”

Richard Johnston, CEO of Endemol Shine UK, said the prodco “complements the Endemol Shine Group scripted stable. Derek is an immense talent and it is going to be incredibly exciting to see what the new venture will produce.”

Wax’s new role is the latest movement at Kudos, which saw its co-CEO Dan Isaacs leave to join former colleague Jane Featherstone at her new prodco in February.

 DA2016 

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