Sony buys into Pegg, Frost prodco

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in Hot Fuzz

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has taken a minority stake in the fledgling television production company launched earlier this year by Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

SPT has bought into UK-based Stolen Picture and signed an exclusive television distribution deal. The business was set up in May to produce TV, film and digital projects across genres and formats.

In addition, the firm has hired Miles Ketley as its first CEO. Ketley was previously chief operating officer at independent prodco Bad Wolf and prior to that co-head of the UK’s largest media law firm, Wiggin. He joined there from Fox Searchlight Pictures and retains his role as a partner in media financier Stone Story.

Ketley said: “Simon and Nick have so many great ideas and are so versatile as writers, performers and producers. When you combine this with the authentic connection with audiences that they already have and the need for multi-genre content across proliferating platforms, Stolen Picture has a rare opportunity to create a diversified slate and have a lot of fun in the process.”

Pegg and Frost have become known for their feature films, produced with Edgar Wright, following the success of Shaun of the Dead in 2004 and police comedy Hot Fuzz in 2007.

But the pair first worked together on TV, appearing in Channel 4’s cult sitcom Spaced. Pegg is currently reprising his role in the latest instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise whilst Frost is filming the third season of AMC’s Into the Badlands.

Stolen Picture’s first project is the film Slaughterhouse Rulez, currently in coproduction with Catalyst Global Media for Sony Pictures International Productions. The comedy-horror is directed by Crispian Mills from a script he co-wrote with Henry Fitzherbert.

Wayne Garvie, chief creative officer for international production at SPT, said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce this. Nick and Simon are good friends of the Sony group already and this deal will help us take things to the next level.

“I’m sure that their boundless zest and creativity, coupled with Miles’ insight and energy, will help build Stolen Picture into an exceptional production company.”

The deal was negotiated by Michael Brader and Medwyn Jones of Wiggin on behalf of Stolen Picture, with Richard Parsons leading an in-house team at SPT.