Paramount+ acquires slate of scripted programming for UK, Ireland

Lionsgate-produced comedy series Minx

SVoD service Paramount+ has acquired a slate of scripted programming from Lionsgate, NBCUniversal Global Distribution and Sony Pictures Television for its feed in the UK and Ireland.

A trio of comedies are heading to Paramount+ from Lionsgate, starting with Home Economics produced by Lionsgate and ABC Signature for US broadcaster ABC. The series focuses on three adult siblings and was inspired by the life of writer and executive producer Michael Colton.

Set in 1970s Los Angeles, Minx centres on Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women. Lionsgate produced the series originally for HBO Max.

Son of a Critch, based on the award-winning, best-selling memoir from Mark Critch, is an original series from Canadian pubcaster CBC produced by Project 10 Productions and Take the Shot Productions in association with CBC and Lionsgate Television.

Two dramas have been acquired from NBCUniversal Global Distribution: La Brea and The Thing About Pam.

La Brea is an adventure series that begins when a massive sinkhole opens in Los Angeles, pulling hundreds of people and buildings into a mysterious and dangerous primeval land. It was produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Israel’s Keshet Studios for US broadcast network NBC.

The Thing About Pam is a true crime limited series based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria that resulted in her husband Russ’s conviction, although he insisted he didn’t kill her. The series is produced by Blumhouse Television, NBC News Studios and Big Picture Co for NBC.

Paramount+ has also acquired Chapelwaite, distributed by Sony Pictures Television. Based on Stephen King’s short story, Jerusalem’s Lot, the show was produced by Epix Studios for MGM-owned network Epix.

Finally, from Dynamic Television, Savage River is another drama to round up the slate. The plot focuses on an ex-con who faces the suspicions of a small town when another murder takes place there.

It was produced by Aquarius Films, in partnership with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and distributed by Dynamic Television.