Newen’s Pupkin buys WBM

Newen-owned Pupkin has taken a majority stake in rival Dutch prodco WBM, whose founder has joined Pupkin as creative producer.

Willem Bosch

WBM was founded by writer-director Willem Bosch in 2019 and focuses on the concept and development of films and series in collaboration with creators.

Bosch will now write, direct and produce for Pupkin exclusively, with the company investing in his ideas.

One of the most requested screenwriters in the Netherlands, Bosch is known for series including Penoza, Baantjer: The Beginning and High Flyers. He is currently working on Pupkin-produced miniseries The Spectacular, which focuses on the IRA attacks in Limburg during the 1980s.

Via the Tuvalu Media Group, Pupkin is part of French production group Newen in a network of production companies consisting of De Mensen in Belgium (Undercover), CAPA in France (Versailles), Nimbus in Denmark (The Bridge) and more recent acquisition iZen in Spain (El Cid).

Pupkin has a focus on high-end drama and produces for Dutch pubcaster RTL and its OTT service Videoland as well as international platforms. It is known for Smeris, Ares and Riphagen.

Pieter Kuijpers, founder and producer of Pupkin said: “I’ve had a long and pleasant working relationship with Willem. He’s a gifted writer, director and creative producer. As founder of WBM, he shares this knowledge and experience with up-and-coming talent.

“Willem and I share the same creative ambition: making groundbreaking series and films with international appeal. That is also the reason that Pupkin found a home with Newen two years ago, the international syndicate of the best European production companies, where creativity always comes first.

“With Willem as part of our creative team, we will have an even better way of realising our ambitions while simultaneously offering a new generation of talent access to our international channels.”

Pupkin and Bosch have previously worked on series including Van God Los, Feuten and Bellicher.

Bosch said: “Pupkin has been my creative home for over 10 years, the place where I have been able to develop myself as a creator. Seeing eye to eye with Pieter the way I do, sharing both creative spirit and ambition, it only made sense to take our prolific collaboration to the next level.

“With Pupkin and Newen, I believe we can realise our dream to bring Dutch drama to an international stage.”