Disney+ Enters Japan Deal; Prime Video Greenlights Hazbin Finale; A24 Lands Cumberbatch Heist; BBC Studios Conquers Asia & More!

Sanjay Dutt and producer Aksha Kamboj have acquired rights to the 1993 Bollywood blockbuster ‘Khal Nayak’ from original director Subhash Ghai and Mukta Arts, via their banners Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment respectively. Jio Studios will present and produce the revival, with president Jyoti Deshpande creatively overseeing it. The original featured Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Anupam Kher and Rakhee Gulzar. (🇮🇳)

→ Who has acquired the rights to remake the 1993 Bollywood blockbuster ‘Khal Nayak’, and who will produce it?

A24 UK has optioned rights to Nick Brucker’s upcoming heist novel ‘White Smoke’, beating over a dozen rival bidders, with plans to adapt it as a TV series. Benedict Cumberbatch is attached to star and produce via his SunnyMarch banner. Set during a papal conclave, the story follows thieves targeting the Vatican’s treasures. The novel is due for publication in 2027. (🇬🇧)

→ What are the details of A24 UK’s option on Nick Brucker’s heist novel ‘White Smoke’ and its planned TV adaptation?

Tell Me Lies’ creator Meaghan Oppenheimer is developing new drama series ‘Bastards’ at Hulu, where she will serve as writer and executive producer. Produced by 20th Television, the fast-tracked series centres on a scandal-hit world-famous artist whose three adult children — each from a different father — reunite at their childhood home to care for a teenage half-sister they barely know. (🇺🇸)

→ Who are the key creatives and producers behind Hulu’s new drama series ‘Bastards’?

Prime Video has renewed adult animated musical comedy series ‘Hazbin Hotel’ for a fifth and final season, to premiere across 240+ countries. Created and executive produced by Vivienne Medrano, the series is produced by A24 and Bento Box Entertainment, starring Erika Henningsen, Stephanie Beatriz and Amir Talai. A premiere date is yet to be announced. (🇺🇸)

→ Has ‘Hazbin Hotel’ been renewed, and what are the details of its final season on Prime Video?

Six active financiers on what makes them say yes. The conversation most producers never get to have. 25 pages. Free.

Vantage Media has acquired North American distribution rights to documentary ‘Boy George & Culture Club’, directed by Alison Ellwood and produced by Propagate, Fine Point Films, Primary Wave Music and Polygram Entertainment. Having world-premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2025, the film is set for a North American rollout from June 9, 2026. (🇺🇸)

→ Who has acquired North American distribution rights to the documentary ‘Boy George & Culture Club’?

Warner Bros. International Television Production Sweden has appointed Greek outfit Heretic as international sales agent for ‘Adult Supervision’ (locally titled ‘Arkipelag’), ahead of the Cannes market. The Scandi drama, marking the directorial debut of Swedish author Alex Schulman, stars Gustaf Skarsgård, Fares Fares and Linus Wahlgren as three fathers chaperoning their teenage daughters on a school trip that descends into danger. (🇸🇪)

→ What are the details of ‘Adult Supervision’ and who has been appointed as its international sales agent?

BBC Studios has signed multiple content deals across Northeast Asia. In Japan, it inked a kids’ programming deal with streamer U-NEXT covering 20 titles, and a co-production agreement with NHK for factual series ‘Matriarch’ about primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall. In South Korea, ‘Planet Earth: The Power of Nature’ gets a theatrical release at CGV cinemas. In China, BBC Studios licensed over 2,600 hours of content to Beijing Sita Digital Technology. (🇬🇧)

→ What are the details of BBC Studios’ multiple content deals across Northeast Asia?

Germany’s Beta Film has secured multiple French deals across its drama slate. Canal Plus’ Polar+ acquired both seasons of ‘Bookish’, created by and starring Mark Gatiss, and crime cycle ‘Death in Denmark’ produced by Eikon Media. NBCUniversal-backed 13ème Rue acquired crime drama ‘Professor T’ starring Ben Miller, produced by Eagle Eye Drama. HBO Max France acquired season two of Dutch royal drama ‘Maxima’, produced by Millstreet Films. (🇩🇪)

→ What are the details of Beta Film’s multiple French distribution deals across its drama slate?

The Mediapro Studio US & Canada and Telemundo Studios have forged a strategic alliance to jointly develop and produce original Spanish-language films targeting Hispanic audiences in the USA and global markets. The partnership’s first co-production is romantic comedy ‘Atrápelo Quien Pueda’, starring Jaime Camil, co-produced with Cinépolis, which handles Latin American theatrical release and sales, while Telemundo Studios distributes in the USA and The Mediapro Studio handles international. (🇪🇸 🇺🇸)

→ What are the details of the strategic alliance between The Mediapro Studio and Telemundo Studios for Spanish-language films?

ITV Studios’ newly launched brand partnership division Studio 55 has debuted its first project — a 10-part LGBTQ+ dating podcast ‘It Started With A Kiss’, produced by Twofour and sponsored by Tinder. Hosted by Amy Spalding and Gareth Valentino — known from ITV’s ‘I Kissed A Boy’ and ‘I Kissed A Girl’ — the podcast launched on April 28. (🇬🇧)

→ What are the details of ITV Studios’ Studio 55 debut project ‘It Started With A Kiss’?

Disney+ has signed a multi-year co-development deal with The Seven, a Tokyo-based production company owned by TBS Holdings, to jointly develop Japanese-language live-action series exclusively for the streamer. Marking Disney’s first ongoing content development partnership with a Japanese production company, The Seven is also known for producing Netflix hits ‘Alice in Borderland’ and ‘Yu Yu Hakusho’. (🇯🇵)

→ What are the details of Disney+’s multi-year co-development deal with The Seven for Japanese-language live-action series?

Turkish production house OGM Pictures has signed a strategic development pact with Spain’s Grupo Ganga to co-produce international scripted projects. The alliance focuses on creating premium series for linear broadcasters and global streaming platforms, involving original IP and format adaptations from both catalogs. This partnership aims to blend Turkish and Spanish storytelling for global audiences. (🇹🇷)

→ What are the details of the co-production pact between OGM Pictures and Grupo Ganga for international scripted projects?