EXCLUSIVE: StudioCanal has confirmed it is back in the UK acquisition business by taking a “significant” stake in a production company founded by The Last Kingdom Producer Phil Temple.
The French production group acquired an undisclosed stake in Birdie Pictures, which was founded in late 2022 by former Kudos executive producer Temple.
Birdie Pictures is already working on the Sunday Times bestseller, The mysterious case of the Alperton Angelsin a TV series.
Janice Hallett’s book follows author Amanda Bailey’s search for a teenager who was mistaken for the Antichrist as a baby by a dangerous cult called the Alperton Angels.
Temple’s most recent project for Kudos was This citythe BBC1 ska music drama created by and starring Steven Knight Downton Abbeyby Michelle Dockery.
His previous work includes the Sky comedy-drama code 404, Stan Lee’s lucky manAnd The Last Kingdomthe Netflix Viking drama.
Temple, who will become Birdie’s CEO, said: “Birdie will be a home where writers feel heard, empowered and supported. We’re going to make quality drama and comedy that audiences will fall in love with, and we want to have fun while doing it.
Francoise Guyonnet, StudioCanal Executive Managing Director TV Series, said: “Phil has worked with all UK broadcasters throughout his rich career and has excellent relationships with writers and talent. Phil shares StudioCanal’s global ambition for projects and we know he will bring a strong line-up of recognizable English language programming to StudioCanal.”
Deadline revealed in January that StudioCanal had returned to the investment trail after backing Strong Film & Television, co-founded by BAFTA winners oh Director James Strong and Matt Tombs, a former BBC and Paramount executive.
The investments in Birdie and Strong are StudioCanal’s first significant UK television deals in several years. In 2016, the Canal+ Group company acquired shares in Urban Myth Films, the producer of Fox war of the worldsand SunnyMarch, co-founded by Benedict Cumberbatch.
StudioCanal has not been idle with acquisitions, but has focused on strengthening its positions with existing partners and has taken full control of Urban Myth and Tandem Productions in the past three years.
Source: Deadline
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
