Rogan Productions taps Buccaneer alum Anna Burns to lead first push into drama

Rogan Productions, the London-based company behind titles such as Grenfell: Uncovered (Netflix) and Boom Box: Beats & Betrayal (HBO Max), is expanding into drama for the first time with the appointment of Buccaneer Media alum Anna Burns as head of scripted development.

Anna Burns

The company, led by owners James and Soleta Rogan, said the appointment marks a “significant strategic shift” as it expands beyond unscripted for the first time since it was launched in 2013.

It has recently had two of its scripted dramas put into development at “major” broadcasters, it said, prompting the creation of a new role overseeing scripted development.

Burns’ arrival comes after Jenny Popplewell was named head of factual and Merle Currie was promoted to head of unscripted development.

Burns was previously an executive producer on projects including In Flight (Channel 4), The Doll Factory (Paramount+) and Whitstable Pearl (Acorn/U Drama) during her time at Buccaneer Media. Before that she was a creative executive at Blueprint Pictures, where she worked on films such as Seven Psychopaths and The Riot Club.

In addition to Boom Box and Grenfell: Uncovered, Rogan has produced titles including Bowie: The Final Act, Becoming Victoria Wood, Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd, The Secret of Me and Zuckerberg: King of the Metaverse.

“Over recent years we have built relationships with people ranging from presidents to police officers, rock stars to radicals, and told stories about global figures, investigations and events that have shaped our world. We have been approached about our content for its scripted potential more times than we can count and we have entered some exciting partnerships,” said James Rogan.

“Watching In Flight was a revelation for me. [Writer] Mike Walden is one of the great new voices of drama and under the stewardship of Anna Burns, that series delivered one of most compelling thrillers of last year. Anna’s track record encompasses the range and enthusiasm for diversity of storytelling in film and drama that is at the core of Rogan Productions, we are excited to work with her on what promises to be a truly thrilling slate of projects.”