Fremantle Inks First-Look Deal With ‘I Am Ruth’ Producer Me+You
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Me+You Productions, the company behind Kate Winslet drama “I Am Ruth,” has inked a first-look and development deal with Fremantle.
The three-year deal will mean Fremantle is the primary home for Me+You’s television slate, both in terms of development and distribution. The production company, founded by Richard Yee and former BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar, will work closely with Fremantle’s global drama division and distribution team, in particular Fremantle scripted content SVP Rebecca Dundon and global drama’s head of creative Hilary Martin, who will lead on creative and commercial for Fremantle.
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De Maio Entertainment’s will act as a strategic advisor for both Me+You and Fremantle, optimizing strategy and maximimizing impact on each project.
The companies recently collaborated on drama “Alice & Jack,” starring Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson, with Fremantle co-producing (alongside Me+You, Groundswell Productions, De Maio Entertainment, Masterpiece and Channel 4) and handling global sales.
Me+You also recently produced “I Am Ruth,” starring Kate Winslet and written/directed by Dominic Savage as well as the feature “Close to You,” directed by Savage and starring Elliot Page, which premiered at TIFF last September.
“I Am Ruth” is part of the company’s award-winning anthology drama series “I Am” which has also featured Samantha Morton, Letitia Wright and Suranne Jones. Originally premiering on U.K. network Channel 4 it has recently been acquired by HBO.
Other “Me+You” productions included Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s “An Idiot Abroad,” Brett Goldstein starrer “Hoff The Record” and feature “The Dali and The Cooper” for Sky Arts / Showtime.
De Maio Entertainment’s Lorenzo De Maio made the introduction between Me+You and Fremantle. The deal was brokered by Jill Kellie on behalf of Fremantle and Lee+Thompson’s Richard Lever for Me+You.
“Since starting Me+You Productions, we’ve prided ourselves on working with the most exciting on and off-screen talent to bring new stories and voices to the screens with the highest cinematic values,” said Majumdar and Yee. “We loved working with the team at Fremantle on the upcoming ‘Alice & Jack’ drama series and are now thrilled about making the partnership official. We’re excited about working with such a forward thinking and ambitious company that shares our vision and will help us expand and bring our stories to an even larger international audience.”
Christian Vesper, Fremantle’s CEO of global drama, added: “We’re continually looking at ways to work with the best creative talent from around the world, and Krish and Richard absolutely fit the bill with the award-winning work they’ve been doing at Me+You. We’re so pleased to have them onboard and to develop a brilliant slate of new shows together”.
Fremantle have recently inked first-look deals with Angelina Jolie and the Larraín brothers, among others.
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