Lionsgate, Eleven Films Develop Music Industry Drama Series Starring Singer-Songwriter Arlo

Leo Barraclough
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Rising British singer-songwriter and actor Arlo, who signed a major recording deal earlier this year with Sony Music Entertainment’s Arista Records label, is developing a scripted television series with Lionsgate and Eleven Films, producers of Netflix hit “Sex Education.”

Eleven will produce and develop the series, which will follow a young man in East London dealing with the complex relationship between his working-class background and success in the music industry.

More from Variety

Arlo, repped by CAA worldwide for TV, music and film, was named one of the influential new faces in music in the U.K. newspaper The Evening Standard. The singer has garnered millions of music streams and sold out a string of headline shows in London. His recent collaboration with Grammy nominated U.S. rapper Mick Jenkins, “Changing,” was tipped by critics.

Arlo will create the show alongside writer and director Aki Omoshaybi, whose debut feature film as a writer, director and producer, “Real,” had its world premiere at the 63rd BFI London Film Festival and streams on Sky. Omoshaybi was long listed at the British Independent Film Awards for best debut director, best debut screenwriter and the Raindance Discovery Award. He has a scripted commission at Channel 4 with his series “Little Faith,” and a second feature film has just been greenlit.

“Arlo is an exciting young actor and recording artist with a strong creative vision and an inspiring and relatable story that will translate into a compelling scripted television series,” said Lionsgate UK senior VP international acquisitions and co-productions Marc Lorber. “Already a rising superstar in the music world, we’re thrilled to partner with him on his first foray into television.”

“Arlo and Aki are prodigiously talented, insightful people as well as being beautifully in tune when it comes to the story they want to tell together,” added Eleven’s co-founder and creative director Joel Wilson. “It has been a real privilege to sit with them and watch this series begin to come to life.”

Lionsgate TV credits include “Orange Is the New Black,” “Nashville,” “Dear White People,” “Anger Management,” “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne” and the Emmy Award winning “Mad Men.”

Credits for Sony-backed Eleven, headed up by Jamie Campbell and Wilson, include multi-BAFTA award winning Netflix series “Sex Education,” “True Horror” for Channel 4, “Gap Year” for E4, “The Enfield Haunting” for Sky, “Glue” for E4, and “Cast Offs” for Channel 4.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.