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Welcoming a bevy of stars, led by “NCIS'” Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly, talking up spinoff “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” and some big new shows, such as “Rise of the Raven,” a sword and mace epic, Cannes’ Mipcom confab hit its final straits Wednesday evening announcing 10,500 delegates in attendance.

That’s down some 500 from 2023’s edition but still makes Mipcom the biggest TV sales and production market in the world.

And the wheels of business are still turning. “The market is definitely picking up, and deals are being made. All our key buyers were here, although the Asian presence was a bit soft. Mipcom is definitely the biggest fall market for us,” said Helene Aurø, sales and marketing director at REInvent, Scandinavia biggest international TV distributor.

Despite massive attendance, however, the event also registered multiple strains in the TV business sparked by a saturation of shows and investor backlash...

‘Yellowstone’ & More Packed in Paramount Volume For BeIN

Middle Eastern broadcast giant BeIN Media has secured the likes of Yellowstone, Frasier and Colin From Accounts through an exclusive multi-year agreement with Paramount Global Content Distribution. Also included in the deal are Yellowstone spin-offs 1883 and 1923, Billions, Frasier, Knuckles, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Mayor of Kingston, Paw Patrol, Ray Donovan, Tulsa King and the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva, along with feature films such as Bob Marley: One Love, Rob Peace, Self Reliance and the Transformers and Mission: Impossible franchises. Paramount has similar deals in place with Cosmote in Greece, Streamz in Belgium, MultiChoice in Africa, JioCinema in India, Blast TV in the Philippines and Mono in Thailand. “This agreement underscores beIN’s commitment to delivering the best in entertainment to our audiences in the Mena region,” said Esra Özaral Altop, Chief Entertainment Content Officer, at BeIN. “By expanding our relationship with Paramount...

A spate of deals out of MIPCOM Cannes this week indicates there is still life in the global TV market.

Paramount Global Content Distribution inked a multi-year volume deal with beIN Media Group, giving the Qatari-owned group exclusive rights to Paramount’s content library, including acclaimed series like Yellowstone, Billions, new offerings such as NCIS: Tony & Ziva and feature films including Bob Marley: One Love and the Transformers and Mission: Impossible franchises, across the Middle East and North Africa for beIN’s premium Pay TV channels and Tod streaming platform. The deal will see the shows carried in English subtitled in Arabic. Paramount has similar agreements in place with the likes of Streamz in Belgium, MultiChoice in Africa, and JioCinema in India.

Disney-owned Hulu, which on Monday announced its acquisition of StudioCanal’s action series Paris Has Fallen, has also snapped up U.S. streaming rights to Critical Incident,...

Following its premiere in the U.K. on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Fremantle’s new thriller series “Nightsleeper” will launch in 147 territories worldwide.

In a raft of global deals, “Nightsleeper” has been sold to M-Net (Africa), Vrt (Belgium), Hrt (Croatia), CyBC (Cyprus), Dr (Denmark), Yle (Finland), Cosmote TV (Greece), Ruv (Iceland), Hot (Israel), Cellcom (Israel), Yes (Israel), Ltv (Latvia), Npo (Netherlands), Nrk (Norway), Canais TVCine – Nos (Portugal), Movistar Plus+ (Spain), Svt (Sweden), Rts (Switzerland), Stan (Australia), Wowow (Japan), Three (New Zealand), PBS Ltd (Malta) and Universal+ (Latin America). Sales to TF1 in France and Stan in Australia had previously been announced.

Starring Alexandra Roach and Joe Cole, the high-octane drama depicts “the hacking of a sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London, and a government agency’s frantic efforts to intervene in the rapidly escalating events onboard,” according to its official synopsis. “Can two people who’ve never met,...

The hit Paramount Network series Yellowstone will soon be coming to an end, and while Kelly Reilly is expected to reprise the role of Beth Dutton on the follow-up series that’s now going by the title The Madison, she’s also making some time to star in the Sky Original crime thriller series Under Salt Marsh, which is expected to start filming later this year. Today, The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Reilly is being joined in the cast by Rafe Spall (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Jonathan Pryce (Tomorrow Never Dies), Naomi Yang (Nightsleeper), Harry Lawtey (Joker: Folie à Deux), Dinita Gohil (Sandman), Brian Gleeson (Phantom Thread), Kimberley Nixon (Fresh Meat), Mark Stanley (Happy Valley), Dino Fetscher (Fool Me Once), Lizzie Annis (The Witcher: Blood Origin), Rhodri Meilir (Tree on a Hill), and Julian Lewis Jones (House of the Dragon).

Written, created, and executive produced by Claire Oakley...

On Sunday 29 September 2024, Channel 4 broadcasts Sunday Brunch!

Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Sunday Brunch” on Channel 4 promises an exciting mix of interviews and live music. Actress Alexandra Roach will join the hosts to discuss her role in the BBC drama “Nightsleeper,” giving viewers insight into the show and her character.

Pop icon Lulu will also be on the show, sharing details about her new tour and reflecting on her impressive career. Additionally, Chris Chung will chat about the popular series “Slow Horses,” providing behind-the-scenes stories and insights. Craig David will update fans on his latest music projects, keeping everyone in the loop about his new work. To top it all off, indie duo Wings of Desire will perform live, adding a musical touch to the lively brunch atmosphere. This episode is set to be a fantastic blend of entertainment and conversation, making it a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning.

Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer are back for another morning of culinary delights and engaging conversations on Sunday Brunch. Kicking things off is Alexandra Roach, who will discuss her role in the new BBC drama Nightsleeper, which is currently airing on Sunday nights. Pop icon Lulu will also grace the show, giving audiences insight into […]

Sunday Brunch: Lulu, Alexandra Roach...

There’s very few things more gripping and exciting to consume, than a real-time thriller. But while so much of that sentiment is coming from the perspective of a viewer, what about the sort of challenges and enjoyment that actors get from taking part? Well that is exactly what we found out, when we had the pleasure in speaking to talented Welsh actor Alexandra Roach, as she pulls back the curtain on her experience shooting the compelling BBC series Nightsleeper.

She discusses shooting in this unique format, acting on the “telephone” and on collaborating with Joe Cole, who also shines in this production.

Watch the full interview with Alexandra Roach here:

Synopsis

Realising that someone on board may be working with the hackers, Joe turns his attention to his fellow passengers, while Abby stuns her colleagues by taking the train off the mainline.

Nightsleeper is available to watch now on...

I’m not going to go into the technological mumbo-jumbo here. There’s a lot of that in BBC One’s latest thrill-ride, Nightsleeper, but trust me, the majority of that is not exactly important for you to understand. In this article, we’re going to go through the plot of the series before sharing our thoughts.

Spoilers Ahead

What Happens in the Show?

It kicks off at Glasgow station. The Heart of Britain Nightsleeper service is about to commence, like on any other night, but it gets delayed by a sudden mugging incident at the station. Two masked men snatch away a woman’s bag on the platform and climb onto the train. Fortunately, police officer Joe is on the scene, here to catch the same train. Joe chases down the muggers inside the train and snatch back the bag from them. The muggers get away, but it’s mostly a win for Joe,...

Fremantle is merging two of its U.K. unscripted labels Thames and Talkback amid its global restructure.

Talkback managing director Jonno Richards is leaving the company after five years in the role. He was at Talkback for nine years altogether.

The new company will be called TalkbackThames and led by Thames managing director Charlie Irwin.

Thames is known for shows such as talent competition “Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream,” in which young stage hopefuls competed for leading roles in the Abba-inspired stage musical, while Talkback’s output includes Netflix dating gameshow “Too Hot To Handle” and quiz show “Qi.”

This is not the first time Talkback and Thames have found themselves united. Fremantle previously merged the two companies in 2003 before separating them again in 2012.

The news comes after Fremantle laid off all staff at scripted label Euston Films, known for shows including the recently launched “Nightsleeper,” and documentary label Undeniable.

Storied UK labels Talkback and Thames are merging once again. Around six roles will be impacted, we understand.

Deadline revealed last year that plans were in place from super-indie owner Fremantle to bring the two together under a restructure that has now been rubberstamped with the exit of Talkback boss Jonno Richards.

The new TalkbackThames outfit will be led by current Thames MD Charlie Irwin. Fremantle said it will create a “single entertainment super-label.” Between them, the two produce the likes of Britain’s Got Talent, Too Hot to Handle, Blankety Blank, Family Fortunes, Qi and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Upcoming shows include Netflix double Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls and Holly Willoughby, and Battle Camp.

In an internal email to staff sent out this afternoon, seen by Deadline, Fremantle UK CEO Amelia Brown said “whilst this is a positive move for the company, I do understand that with any change...

A train gets hack-jacked (I picked up the word from the show actually) in the opening minutes of BBC One’s six-episode-long Nightsleeper, causing all the drama and madness – which is supposed to enthrall the audience. As is what usually happens in a series like this, the ending of Nightsleeper is quite shocking, and some of you might find it confusing, and it’s my intention to clear all that up. We’re only focusing on the climax of the series in this article. In case you want to read a detailed recap and our thoughts on the series, please check here.

Spoilers Ahead

Who hack-jacked the Nightsleeper Train?

It’s always the one you’d least suspect isn’t it? My “whodunit” game is pretty strong usually, but I’ve gotta give it to this show here; cause I never thought it would be former Technical Director of the...

Packed onto the overnight Glasgow to London sleeper, a cross section of passengers settle in for the long ride ahead. But their journey quickly takes an alarming turn when unknown hackers gain control of the train, cutting it off from the outside world. Now, without cell service or any way to communicate with the driver, those on board face an uncertain fate as the train hurtles ahead under new management. Former cop Joe is thrust into a leading role as the only one who seems willing to take charge. He works with cyber expert Abby back in London to discover who’s truly at the controls and how to stop a hijacking that may spell disaster for Britain’s entire rail system.

This is the premise that launches BBC’s latest mini-series thriller, Nightsleeper. Six tense episodes follow the cliffhanger format of hits like 24 as passengers and authorities race to...

On Monday 16 September 2024, BBC One broadcasts Nightsleeper!

Season 1 Episode 2 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Nightsleeper” promises to be filled with tension and urgency. As the story unfolds, Abby faces a major challenge when a cyber attack disrupts the rail network. This unexpected situation leaves her unable to see the dangers ahead on the track. With time running out, Abby must act quickly to prevent a potential disaster.

In this episode, Abby finds herself in a difficult position. The usual support she relies on is missing, as Liz Draycott, the Minister of Transport, steps in as her new ally. However, Liz does not seem to have the same level of expertise or understanding as Joe, making Abby’s task even harder. As the pressure mounts, Abby realizes that she cannot rely solely on her usual methods.

The mysterious Driver continues to stay one step ahead, adding to the complexity of the situation.

On Sunday 15 September 2024, BBC One broadcasts Nightsleeper!

Season 1 Episode 1 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Nightsleeper” promises to be an intense ride. Titled “Time is Running Out,” this episode features a gripping storyline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The stakes could not be higher as two strangers find themselves in a race against time to prevent a disaster.

In this thrilling episode, hackers take control of a train, sending it on a dangerous path toward catastrophe. With the clock ticking, the two main characters must work together despite their differences. The tension builds as they scramble to find a way to stop the train before it reaches its final destination.

“Nightsleeper” has become known for its heart-pounding action and clever twists. This episode is sure to deliver more of the same, combining suspense with unexpected turns. Fans can look forward to an adrenaline-fueled experience that explores themes of teamwork and urgency.

All six episodes of thriller series Nightsleeper premiere on BBC iPlayer on 15 September 2024. The opening episode will also premiere on BBC One at 9:00 Pm. The series follows a train journey from Glasgow to London that is taken over by cyber terrorists, leaving an off-duty police officer, Joe Roag (Joe Cole), and Abby […]

Crime Thriller Nightsleeper Premieres 15 September on BBC iPlayer...

Anna Friel, David Threlfall and Anna Maxwell Martin are among the cast of an upcoming BBC single drama from Time writer Jimmy McGovern about grooming and sexual abuse.

Set and filmed in Liverpool, the currently-unnamed drama, per the synoposis, “centres around the Mitchell family, who are dealing with the devastating aftermath of an act of abuse, and the knowledge that it was perpetrated by a member of their own family who, after serving his sentence, has just been released from prison.”

Friel (Marcella, Pushing Daisies), who was BAFTA-nominated for her work in Jimmy McGovern’s Broken, leads the cast alongside Maxwell Martin (Motherland, A Spy Among Friends, Poppy Shakespeare), BAFTA-winner Threlfall (Nightsleeper, Shameless, Housewife 49), Bobby Schofield (Time, Anne, Sas Rogue Heroes), BAFTA-winner and Mark Womack (The Responder, Playing the Field, Moving On). Further casting will be announced in due course.

McGovern’s LA Productions is making the drama, which...

The BBC on Thursday unveiled an original new drama from screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (Time, Cracker, The Street) which will explore “the impact of grooming and sexual abuse on one family.”

Emmy winner Anna Friel (Marcella, Pushing Daisies), who was BAFTA-nominated for her previous work with McGovern in Broken, leads the cast alongside Bobby Schofield (Time, Anne, Sas Rogue Heroes), BAFTA winner Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, A Spy Among Friends, Poppy Shakespeare), BAFTA winner David Threlfall (Nightsleeper, Shameless, Housewife 49) and Mark Womack (The Responder, Playing the Field, Moving On).

Further casting will be unveiled “in due course,” the BBC said.

Directed by Julia Ford (Showtrial, The Bay, Safe), the as-yet-untitled 90-minute single drama will be made by LA Productions (Broken, Anthony, Care) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

“Set and filmed in Liverpool, the fictional drama centers around the Mitchell family who are dealing with the devastating aftermath of an act of abuse,...

Anna Friel and Anna Maxwell Martin are set to star in a new BBC drama from “Time” creator Jimmy McGovern.

The as yet untitled 90-minute drama will explore the themes of grooming and sexual abuse in the context of one family, the Mitchell family, who must grapple with the aftermath of abuse after the perpetrator – a relative – is released from prison.

Bobby Schofield (“Time”), David Threlfall (“Nightsleeper”) and Mark Womack (“The Responder”) star alongside Friel, who is known for her work on “Marcella” and “Pushing Daisies” and “Motherland’s” Maxwell Martin.

More casting is set to be confirmed in due course.

Julia Ford (“Showtrial”) will direct. LA Productions (“Broken”) are producing. Donna Molloy is also a producer. McGovern exec produces alongside Colin McKeown for LA Productions and Nawfal Faizullah and Katherine Bond for the BBC.

McGovern is known for creating a plethora of popular dramas including “Cracker” and the prison series “Time,...

Nicola Maccanico, the ex-ceo of iconic Italian studio Cinecittà, is heading to Fremantle to run its Italian division.

Maccanico resigned over the summer from the studio that hosted work from the likes of Roland Emmerich, Joe Wright, Edward Berger, Angelina Jolie and Luca Guadagnino during his tenure. He left after his three-year term at the government-owned facilities had ended. Past roles include EVP Programming at Sky Italia, CEO at Vision Distribution and Managing Director of Theatrical at Warner Brothers Italy.

At Fremantle he will oversee a portfolio that includes Wildside, The Apartment Pictures, Lux Vide and Fremantle Italy, with their CEO’s Sonia Rovai, Annamaria Morelli, Luca Bernabei, and Marco Tombolini respectively reporting into Maccanico.

The role is newly created. At the same time, France boss Bruno Fallot has been promoted to oversee Fremantle’s production biz in France, Spain, Portugal and Israel. Both will join Fremantle’s global senior leader team.

We're throwing it back to lockdown on the Pilot TV podcast this week as, thanks to James Dyer's ongoing tussles with the dreaded Covid, Kay, Boyd, and their infected co-pilot abandon the pod booth to record remotely. But even though the team aren't physically together, and even though there's been a relative dearth of new telly on the box this week, that hasn't stopped the good ship Pilot from lifting off for more televisual talk. Among the shows on the agenda this week are BBC1 real-time train-based thriller Nightsleeper, cannily titled sex-filled Channel 5 teacher drama The Teachers, and chic French fashion Apple TV offering La Maison.

Elsewhere, we find out what the pod squad have been watching over the last seven days, and this week's Game Of Thrones inspired listener question finds the team considering their favourite unlikely small-screen friendships. Plus, between the reviews and usual TV chat,...

The new adrenaline-fueled thriller Nightsleeper kicks off with an intense premiere episode airing at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, 15 September 2024, on BBC One. In this gripping story, time is of the essence as two strangers find themselves caught in a life-or-death situation when hackers take control of a train, sending it hurtling toward destruction.

As the clock ticks down, viewers will be on the edge of their seats as the two protagonists must work together to find a way to stop the train before it reaches its final destination. The tension builds with every passing moment, revealing the stakes and the desperate measures the characters must take to avert disaster. With high-octane action and unexpected twists, this thrilling series promises to keep audiences engaged and guessing. Nightsleeper is set to deliver an unforgettable ride, making it a must-watch for fans of suspenseful dramas.

Release Date & Time: 9:00 Pm Sunday 15 September 2024 on...

Exclusive: Fremantle’s German sales chief, Maximilian Bolenius, is leaving the Got Talent maker after 14 years.

Bolenius, Fremantle’s Senior Vice President for German-speaking Europe and Israel, has let clients know he is exiting in an email today, we understand. Fremantle confirmed the departure to Deadline in a statement.

“Max Bolenius has decided to leave Fremantle after nearly 15 years in the company,” said Jamie Lynn, Fremantle’s EVP Co-Production & Distribution Emea. “Throughout his tenure Max has been a valued member of our distribution team, forging countless great relationships with his colleagues and clients. We thank him for his many contributions whilst working for Fremantle and sincerely wish him all the best for his future endeavours.”

We understand Lynn’s team will assimilate Bolenius’ duties for the time being, as a succession plan is worked out. Jens Richter is CEO of International and Commercial at the unit, which sells the likes of Got Talent,...

Fremantle has laid off all the staff at drama producer Euston Films and documentary label Undeniable.

“As part of ongoing strategic planning, we are continuously reviewing measures necessary for creating a more effective, coordinated and streamlined approach to our business to ensure it is in the best position for future success and growth, and to continue to deliver exceptional creativity and world class content for our valued partners and clients around the world,” said a rep for Fremantle.

“As our industry evolves, we must do the same, and with this in mind, we have made the difficult decision to make changes within Fremantle. We want to take this time to thank our colleagues, who have been behind some incredible, award-winning programming, and wish them all the best for the future.”

According to a source, it is “too soon” to confirm what will happen to either Euston Films or Undeniable, with...

Exclusive: Fremantle is laying of all staff at storied drama indie Euston Films and docs label Undeniable, with senior execs Mandy Chang and Kate Harwood exiting.

Around 10 staff members have been laid off as nasty economic headwinds and the global contraction bite at Element Pictures and 72 Films-owner Fremantle.

Former BBC in-house drama boss Harwood is leaving Euston along with fellow MD Noemi Spanos and a number of others. All staff are leaving. The Euston brand and IP remain with Fremantle, so the label is technically not closing, we understand. Harwood and Spanos remain attached to their respective IP.

Euston is a fabled British drama indie that was founded in 1971 and made hits including The Sweeney and Van der Valk in its early years. It was revived under Harwood’s leadership in 2014 and went on to make seven shows, with the latest, Nightsleeper, launching on the BBC in just 10 days’ time.

Intense thriller Nightsleeper comes to the BBC in September, and here’s the trailer for the train-based series.

One of the most thrilling scenes to come out of a BBC drama in recent years was the opening of Jed Mercurio’s Bodyguard, in which the titular character foils a terrorist on a train.

New BBC thriller Nightsleeper takes this to the extreme by setting all six episodes on a high speed train. Think of it as Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, but on a modern BBC budget. And with no Steven Seagal.

The synopsis reads as follows:

Nightsleeper is a six-part series in which a train is ‘hackjacked’ while travelling from Glasgow to London, and suddenly finds itself on an uncertain journey with an even less certain destination. Part fast-moving heart-in-the-mouth action-adventure and part twisty-turny whodunnit detective story, it’s a roller coaster ride set across a single night where...

The BBC has released the trailer for its upcoming real-time thriller, “Nightsleeper,” which will air on Sunday, September 15, with all episodes available on BBC iPlayer from 6 a.m. The series will also broadcast on BBC One on Sunday and Monday nights across three weeks, starting at 9 p.m. Starring Alexandra Roach and Joe Cole, […]

BBC’s New Thriller “Nightsleeper” Premieres on September 15...

Exclusive: Amp International has boarded sales on romantic comedy, Near Miss, ahead of its festival premiere at the Edmonton International Film Festival at the end of September.

Written and directed by commercials director Jamie Rafn, the film stars David Fynn (Am I Being Unreasonable) and Tahirah Sharif (The Haunting of Bly Manor). Pic is produced by Josephine Rose (Cinderella) of Bandit Country, and Jamie Rafn of Rafn Films.

Timothy Renouf (A Very British Scandal) and Remy Beasley (Steeltown Murders) also star alongside Fynn and Sharif.

Shot across west London, the rom-com follows Jim, who married the first woman who ever showed him any interest. When she leaves him fifteen years later he is reluctantly thrust back into the dating game as his friends determine to have him hit the dating apps and play the field. Only problem is, despite all their efforts, he has now fallen in love with the...

Real-time thriller “Nightsleeper” has been acquired by French network TF1.

Starring Alexandra Roach (“The Light in the Hall”) and Joe Cole (“Gangs of London”), the six-episode thriller unfolds in real-time as a sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London is hacked and events rapidly escalate on board, causing a government agency to frantically intervene.

“Can two people who’ve never met, one on the train and one not, work together to save the lives of its disparate group of passengers as the Heart of Britain overnight service hurtles towards what might quite literally be its final destination?” reads the logline.

The series, which is produced by Fremantle’s Euston Films for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, was written by “Murdered For Being Different” scribe Nick Leather with Laura Grace writing episodes 4 and 5. It’s directed by Jamie Magnus Stone (“Doctor Who”) and John Hayes (“Dublin Murders”).

It will air in the U.

Fremantle revenues dropped 9.2% in the first quarter of 2024 to €395m, with parent company Rtl blaming ‘timing effects’ of show deliveries in the UK, Italy and Germany for the fall.

Rtl said it was confident Fremantle will make up the shortfall in the second quarter, citing the delivery of productions such as the second season of The Responder and new thriller series Nightsleeper for the BBC in the UK as well as season 19 of America’s Got Talent for NBC in the US.

The first quarter drop comes after Fremantle’s full-year 2023 turnover fell by 3.5%, leading Rtl to delay by up to...

Fremantle revenues dipped almost 10% during Q1 but owner Rtl is hoping for a bounceback and has set company growth targets for full-year 2024.

Rtl put the Poor Things and Got Talent producer’s weak Q1 performance, which saw its revenue tumble by 9.2% year-on-year to €395M ($424m), down to “timing effects in the UK, Italy and Germany” of show launches.

An improvement is expected during this quarter, Rtl added, pointing to the launch of a second season of BBC drama The Responder and new BBC series Nightsleeper, as well as season 19 of America’s Got Talent for NBC and Race To Survive: New Zealand for the USA Network in the U.S. Fremantle will also start realizing its €200M investment in Death in Paradise content group Asacha and 80% of Singapore’s Beach House Pictures.

Fremantle’s full-year 2023 turnover fell by 3.5%, revealed last month, at which point Deadline reported that Rtl had delayed the...

Revenues at Bertelsmann’s Luxembourg-based Rtl Group, a media giant which owns Fremantle, rose 2.6% to €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion), for the first quarter of 2024, driven by buoyant TV advertising and streaming.

However, this was offset by decreased revenues at the group’s global content business. Fremantle revenues were down 9.2% to €395 million (Q1/2023: €435 million), due to what Rtl describes as “timing effects in the U.K., Italy and Germany.”

“Revenue from Fremantle is recognized when a show or series is delivered to its clients, i.e. the broadcasters and streaming services. One example: The German version of ‘Idols’ (‘Deutschland Sucht den Superstar’) has been on air for many years in the first quarter of the year. In 2024, the show will be on air in autumn [fall] – thus the revenue will be recognized in the second half of 2024,” an Rtl spokesperson told Variety.

Otherwise, it was a rosy picture for Rtl, after a 2023 financial...

Exclusive: Gangs of London and Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole is set to lead action-thriller He Bled Neon, marking the feature debut of music video filmmaker Drew Kirsch who co-directed videos “You Need to Calm Down” and “Lover” with Taylor Swift, and also helmed videos for Shakira, Charlie Puth, John Legend, Imagine Dragons and Machine Gun Kelly.

Grammy nominee Zhu will compose the score in collaboration with Joseph Trapanese.

The official synopsis reads: “After his estranged brother’s mysterious death, Ethan’s (Cole) journey to Las Vegas for the funeral unravels a dark web of crime, forcing him to confront his past as he delves into the city’s gritty underworld to uncover the truth, risking everything he holds dear in the process.”

XYZ Films (BlackBerry) will produce alongside frequent collaborator Two & Two Pictures (Under the Shadow). The companies are in post on Hallow Road,...

“How do we learn how much we love what we have? We can learn that by saying we’re going to lose it,” said Thomas Vinterberg, director of “Families Like Ours,” one of the scripted standouts at MipTV. He was talking about Denmark, evacuated in the series. But the same could be said of delegates at this MipTV.

As the final edition ever rounded its final straits on Wednesday, there was a rush of nostalgia, building in prior days, for an event which had become a fixture in many executives lives down the decades, and had served a business purpose.

“MipTV has always been a very important market for us in the last 25 years. We’ve launched there the new spring series. It is sad that they are moving to London,” lamented Helene Auro at Denmark’s REinvent.

“It’s a pity that MipTV ends. It has a long history,...

Exclusive: Doctor Who director Jamie Magnus Stone is helming a sci-fi series adaptation of Brian W. Aldiss’ debut Non-Stop for Aircraft Pictures.

Set in a distant future, Non-Stop tells the tale of Roy Complain, a man born into a primitive society only to discover his tribe is one of many aboard a colossal spaceship. This knowledge sets Complain and his band of intrepid explorers on a perilous journey through uncharted territories to find the ship’s bridge, as they unravel the mysteries of their new world and confront the looming threat of their own annihilation.

Casting is yet to be announced and Aircraft will begin shopping the project at Series Mania next week.

“We’re excited to bring this science-fiction classic to the screen as part of Aircraft’s continued expansion into scripted drama,” said Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen, co-founders of Aircraft. “We’re fortunate to be working with...

Exclusive: Australian streamer Stan has today unveiled a 25-strong slate, adding scripted titles from Matchbox Pictures and the producers behind Colin From Accounts, acquisitions from the UK and U.S. and a new version of Drag Race to its ranks.

Content from the likes of All3Media, AMC, Banijay, the BBC, Fremantle, ITV, Lionsgate, Universal Internatational Studios, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros Discovery is on the slate, which was showcased at the iconic Sydney Opera House as Stan’s latest salvo in Australia’s competitive streaming market.

Among the key scripted originals is Critical Incident, a psychological crime thriller from Matchbox, the Australian production subsidiary of Universal Studio Group-owned Universal International Studios. Written by Sarah Bassiuoni (The Secrets She Keeps), it recently completed production in Western Sydney, with major production investment from Screen Australia.

The six-part show depicts life in the Western suburbs of Sydney and delves into the complex...

A feast for the eyeballs! That’s what the UK’s new TV drama (British shows returning for another series this year are here) output looks like for 2024 – a year of thrills, chills and laughs, from supernatural escapism to immersive historical dramas, true stories brought to life, and plenty to feed Britain’s crime mystery obsession.

Here’s a flavour of what 2024 holds for your TV: book adaptations include a new imagining of Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective stories coming to the BBC, a scandalous adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s iconic novel Rivals (starring David Tennant), Jack Thorne’s take on Lord of the Flies, and much much more.

There’s high-stakes action in thrillers like Red Eye, Black Doves and Nightsleeper, and you can transport yourself back in time to discover the lives of a notorious eighties jewel thief in Joan, sinister Jacobean power play in Mary and George,...

TikToker-turned-actress Ruth Codd has joined the cast of Universal’s live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon.

Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and directed the original and revered trilogy, is steering the new feature, returning as writer, director and executive producer. Dragon is currently shooting in Ireland.

Codd joins Mason Thames (The Black Phone) and Nico Parker (The Last of Us), who are starring as Hiccup and Astrid, the young Viking teens who befriend dragons.

Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick the Vast, the leader of the Viking clan and Hiccup’s father, is reprising his role in the flesh. Nick Frost is playing Gobber the Belch.

The cast also includes Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Nightsleeper), Bronwyn James (Masters of the Air) and Harry Trevaldwyn (Ten Percent) .

Codd has been cast a Phlegma, a member of the Viking village. In the original animated movie, the character was voiced by Ashley Jensen.

“Peaky Blinders” breakout Joe Cole enjoyed “little moments of levity” in his upcoming show “Nightsleeper.”

“I play a lot of serious, moody characters. But I read this role and went: ‘This is close to me as a person.’ I could be free and use my life experience, everything I have been through. I try to have fun in life and bring it to the parts I play. I haven’t always been able to do it, because I am usually killing people or stabbing them,” he tells Variety.

These days, Cole wants to be “stimulated and challenged” as an actor.

“I am working on a film now, these are Russian filmmakers and they tell dark stories, but they do it with levity. They don’t relentlessly bang you on the head. The story itself is grim enough, so find the humor!,” he notes, also mentioning a recent turn in “A Small Light” about Miep Gies,...

Enough with the winter gloom: Feel-good shows are about to take over TV market London Screenings, as distributors echo Russell Crowe’s Maximus iconic words: “Are you not entertained?”

“Most platforms are looking for entertaining shows. Escapism is a big thing,” says Fremantle International CEO Jens Richter.

“You want to take the audience somewhere else and make sure they forget about their reality for a minute. ‘We want to entertain you.’ That’s the headline, basically.”

Beta Group’s chief distribution officer Oliver Bachert agrees – in a world challenged by many conflicts, watching something “accessible and easy” feels more appealing than ever.

“We see things that are maybe not that ambitious, but they work as entertainment. A bit of blue sky helps us deal with everyday news. Even up north, Nordic Noir just got lighter.”

Crime and thrillers are still “major export genres,” notices Rachel Glaister of All3Media International, but...

Exclusive: Fremantle is taking a Love is Blind-esque Danish format to the London TV Screenings in which singletons try to find love using just sight and sound.

Fremantle label Strong has produced Sense of Attraction and the show will be shopped to potential buyers in the capital in a fortnight’s time.

In Sense of Attraction, singletons try to find true love using only two senses. But they can’t use the two senses at the same time, so when they see each other they can’t speak and when they speak they can’t see one another.

The show has shades of Netflix hit Love is Blind, in which single men and women become engaged before they have even seen each other. That smash format has aired for six seasons on Netflix and been remade in a number of territories.

Denmark has a healthy history of originating big formats...

Exclusive: Toby Kebbell (Servant), Shia Labeouf (Fury) and James Cosmo (Game of Thrones) have been set to star in boxing-world crime-drama Salvable, which Metro International is launching ahead of the EFM next week.

Carl Froch, former Boxing World Champion and 2023 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, will be training Kebbell and Labeouf with work due to get underway in New York next week. The plan is for the filmmakers to shoot a documentary tracking their progress as they prepare for the film.

Filming for Salvable is slated to begin in April.

The movie will follow Sal “The Bull,” a washed-up boxer on the brink of 40, who is fighting more than just his opponents. With a life of regrets and fading dreams, Sal’s chance at redemption comes knocking in the form of illegal boxing, introduced by the sudden return of his old friend, Vince. Sal faces the ultimate dilemma: seize...

Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn have been cast as Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut in Universal Pictures’ live-action take of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon.

They join Mason Thames and Nico Parker who are set to star as Hiccup and Astrid in this adaptation from original How to Train Your Dragon filmmaker Dean DeBlois, who is also directing, writing and producing this new reboot.

Gerard Butler will reprise his role as Stoick the Vast and Nick Frost joins the franchise as Gobber the Belch.

Three-time Best Picture Oscar nominee Marc Platt will produce for his Universal-based Marc Platt Productions alongside Adam Siegel, President of Marc Platt Productions.

The pic hits theaters on June 13, 2025.

Dennison just...

The cast of Universal’s live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” movie is shaping up with the additions of Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn.

Dennison, Howell, James and Trevaldwyn have been respectively cast as Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut in the live-action adaptation of the hit DreamWorks Animation movie.

The quartet join Mason Thames and Nico Parker, who are set to star as Hiccup and Astrid; Gerard Butler, who reprises his role from the animated movies as Stoick the Vast; and Nick Frost, who joins the franchise as Gobber the Belch. The animated entries, backed by Universal and DreamWorks and based on the books by Cressida Cowell, has generated more than $1.6 billion worldwide.

The new “How to Train Your Dragon” — which is set to hit theaters on June 13, 2025 — is written, directed and produced by Dean DeBlois, who earned three Oscar nominations for his work on the animated features.

Universal’s Viking village is growing.

The studio has cast up-and-comers Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Nightsleeper), Bronwyn James (Masters of the Air) and Harry Trevaldwyn (Ten Percent) in its live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon.

Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and directed the original and revered trilogy, is steering the new feature, returning as writer, director and producer.

The quartet join has Mason Thames (The Black Phone) and Nico Parker (The Last of Us), who are starring as Hiccup and Astrid, the young teens who befriend dragons. Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick the Vast, the leader of the Viking clan and Hiccup’s father, is reprising his role in the flesh, while Nick Frost is playing Gobber the Belch, the trusted friend and adviser of Stoick.

The young thespians will play Fishlegs, Snotlout, and sister-brother duo Ruffnut and Tuffnut, respectively. The characters are part...

Forget the fear of flying. In the upcoming six-episode thriller “Nightsleeper,” the real danger awaits on a train travelling from Glasgow to London.

“When we were developing the show, we got all these experts in one room and asked: ‘How do you hack a train?’ An hour later, they said: ‘This is scary. We could easily do it now, between ourselves’,” says writer Nick Leather.

“We will do for trains what ‘Jaws’ did for sharks.”

Produced by Fremantle’s Euston Films and set to premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in early 2024, “Nightsleeper” is directed by Jamie Magnus Stone and John Hayes.

While Abby Aysgarth (Alexandra Roach) at the U..K’s National Cyber Security Centre is trying her best to stop the train, some remaining passengers also join forces – including off-duty cop Joe Roag (“Peaky Blinders” actor Joe Cole). But they only have six hours and one satellite phone.

The BBC has released two first-look images from its upcoming real-time thriller ‘Nightsleeper.’

The story is about the hacking of a sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London, and a government agency’s frantic efforts to intervene in the rapidly-escalating events onboard. Can two people who’ve never met, one on the train and one not, work together to save the lives of its disparate group of passengers as the Heart of Britain overnight service hurtles towards what might quite literally be its final destination?

Alexandra Roach (The Light in the Hall) and Joe Cole (Gangs of London) lead the cast of the suspense thriller, written by BAFTA award-winning writer Nick Leather (Murdered For Being Different) from Fremantle’s Euston Films, coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in early 2024.

Roach plays Abby Aysgarth, the Acting Technical Director at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, who’s finally about...

Peaky Blinders and Gangs of London star Joe Cole has been cast as lead in real-time BBC thriller series Nightsleeper.

He’ll play opposite Alexandra Roach (The Light in the Hall) in the drama, which is from Nick Leather. Filming is underway in Glasgow, Scotland.

The BBC first announced the show in December, as we reported here. Set on a sleeper train from the Glasgow to London, the real-time drama follows a government agency desperately trying to intervene as events rapidly escalate onboard. Two strangers (Cole and Roach) are forced to work together to save the lives of disparate group of passengers, as the train hurtles towards “what might quite literally be its final destination.”

Also starring are Alex Ferns (The Devil’s Hour), Sharon Small (The Bay), James Cosmo (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), David Threlfall (Shameless), Daniel Cahill (The Control Room), Lois Chimimba...