Sky looks at fashion with Misfits, Fremantle

Sky has commissioned a docuseries about high-end fashion produced by the filmmakers behind feature documentary McQueen in collaboration with Fremantle, for its documentary channel.

Poppy Dixon

Kingdom of Dreams (4×60′) is described as an archive-led story, set in the world of fashion. It spans three decades, from the early 1990s to the 2010s, during which time fashion exploded out of the traditional, elite kingdoms of haute couture and style – Paris, Milan, London and New York – to become a global phenomenon.

Produced by London-based Misfits Entertainment with Fremantle, the series will launch on Sky Documentaries and streaming service Now in 2022.

Misfits Entertainment is headed up by filmmakers Ian Bonhôte, Dee Ryder and Peter Ettedgui. The firm began developing Kingdom of Dreams with Fremantle shortly after the theatrical release of its documentary about the life of British fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

Kingdom of Dreams has been commissioned for Sky Documentaries by: Zai Bennett, MD of content at Sky; Poppy Dixon, director of documentaries and factual at Sky; and Jamie Morris, Sky’s director of programmes. It was negotiated by Jack Oliver, head of coproductions, Sky Entertainment.

Hayley Reynolds, commissioning editor, and Oliver will also serve as executive producers for Sky UK. The series will be distributed internationally by Fremantle.

It comes after Sky Documentaries last month marked one year since its launch in the UK with a slate of new commissions, including projects on Mother Teresa and Michael X – the revolutionary once heralded as the UK’s Malcolm X.

Kingdom of Dreams will air on Sky Documentaries in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Austria and Germany, where the channel, alongside Sky Nature, is set to launch in September.

Dixon said: “The creativity, opportunity and mystery inherent in the fashion industry has always sparked curiosity and intrigue. When the team at Misfits and Fremantle shared their ambitious plans to tell the story of how the industry grew to become the global behemoth it is now, we knew Sky Documentaries would be the perfect home for this captivating story.”

Jamie Lynn, executive VP of coproduction and distribution, EMEA at Fremantle added: “Developing such a bold and ground-breaking piece of event television with the Misfits team has been an absolute joy and this series perfectly encapsulates the type of exciting, must-see documentary series that Sky are known for.”