Netflix Lands Warner Music First-Look; HBO Max Launches in UK; Disney+ Greenlights European Slate & More!

Amazon MGM Studios extended its overall television and first-look film deal with executive producer Marc Resteghini and his Jack Tar Pictures banner. Resteghini, a former Amazon executive, produces the Prime Video series ‘Young Sherlock’ starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Colin Firth, and Joseph Fiennes. The deal follows the successful global debut of the Guy Ritchie-directed mystery series. (🇺🇸)

→ Please provide details of Amazon MGM Studios overall television and first-look film deal with Marc Resteghini and his Jack Tar Pictures banner.

Netflix secured a multi-year first-look deal with Warner Music Group (WMG) to develop documentary series and features featuring WMG’s music talent. Under the pact, Netflix will have the first right of refusal for projects produced by WMG’s film and television division, Warner Music Entertainment. The partnership focuses on storytelling around the label’s global recording artists. (🇺🇸)

→ Please provide details about Netflix’s multi-year first-look deal with Warner Music Group (WMG)

BBC Studios has secured two German greenlights — a remake of Danish teen drama ‘Klassen’ for WDR and a second season of its German ‘Ghosts’ adaptation — as it pushes to expand scripted originals internationally. (🇬🇧 🇩🇪)

→ In which countries has the teen drama Klassen been adapted?

Disney+ EMEA content head Angela Jain has commissioned a new slate of European originals, including a feature documentary on Welsh singer Duffy (produced by Rare TV and Stellify Media), Italian murder mystery series ‘Murder on Lake Garda’ (produced by Fremantle’s The Apartment), Turkish supernatural comedy ‘The Strange Story of Gustav Maier’ (produced by MGX), and Spanish documentary series ‘Abandoned’ (produced by Luminol Media). (🇺🇸)

→ List the Original projects commissioned by Disney+ EMEA in Europe recently and which studios are involved?

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

Cappu Films has closed international distribution deals for crime thriller ‘Fox Hunt’, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Duan Yihong, and Olga Kurylenko. Rights have been acquired by Blacktop International (German-speaking territories), Dimeo Films (Poland), YouPlanet (Spain & Portugal), and Global Media Distribution (🇭🇰).

→ Provide an overview of the Chinese crime thriller Fox Hunt

Paradise City Sales has closed multiple territorial deals for Warwick Thornton’s Berlinale competition entry ‘Wolfram’, starring Deborah Mailman. Rights were acquired by Cherry Pickers (Benelux), Unicorn (Italy), Ama Films (Greece), MCF Megacom (ex-Yugoslavia), Filmarti (Turkey), and Anuvu (airline rights). Dark Matter handles Australia and New Zealand. Additional deals are ongoing. (🇦🇺)

→ Who are the buyers who have acquired rights for Warwick Thornton’s ‘Wolfram’?

Documentary+ has acquired global rights to ‘Still Single,’ a culinary documentary about Michelin two-starred sushi chef Masaki Saito, from XYZ Films (rep. by Nate Bolotin). Directed by Jamal Burger and Jukan Tateisi, the TIFF-premiered film is produced by Rhombus Media and Common Good. It premieres on Documentary+ on April 23. (🇺🇸)

→ Provide a company overview of XYZ Films

France TV Distribution has closed multiple international sales for its light crime series ‘Curious by Nature’ (originally ‘Enquête Parallèle’), starring Florence Pernel. In Spain, rights were acquired by ETB, Aragón TV, and NBCUniversal International Networks & DTC (Calle 13). Further deals include Walter Presents/Global Series Network for Ireland, UK, USA & Canada, NBCUniversal for Poland (13 Ulica), TV3 Group Latvia, and Blue+ in Switzerland. (🇫🇷)

→ For which countries are the broadcast rights already secured for the French light crime series ‘Curious by Nature’ starring Florence Pernel?

Postmedia Network entered a strategic partnership with Elevation Pictures to develop film and television projects based on Postmedia’s journalism library. The first acquisition under this pact is the screen rights to John Vaillant’s ‘Fire Weather’. Elevation Pictures will serve as the production and distribution partner for the slate, focusing on premium Canadian stories for global audiences. (🇨🇦)

→ What is John Vaillant’s ‘Fire Weather’ about?

Berlin-based distributor DCM acquired full ownership of Swiss independent distributor Ascot Elite Entertainment to expand its presence in German-speaking markets. Ascot Elite, which recently handled ‘The Housemaid’ and ‘Marty Supreme’, will merge into the DCM brand. Former owners will remain as independent producers, while DCM’s Stephanie Candinas takes over executive management of the combined entity. (🇩🇪)

→ What are the details of DCM’s acquisition of Ascot Elite Entertainment and its impact on German-speaking markets?

Warner Bros. Discovery announced the official UK launch of its streaming service, HBO Max, ending its long-standing exclusivity deal with Sky. Previously, Sky held the rights to HBO content like ‘House of the Dragon’ and ‘The White Lotus’. While Sky remains a distribution partner, the new platform will offer direct access to the HBO library. (🇺🇸)

→ In which European countries is the streaming service HBO Max available?

Topic Studios entered a strategic partnership with the newly launched UK factual production company, Puzzle Pictures, led by filmmaker Sam Hobkinson. The acquisition of this stake marks Topic Studios’ expansion into the UK market to develop cinematic documentary storytelling. The collaboration aims to produce premium nonfiction content for global streaming platforms. (🇺🇸)

→ Give details abut Topic Studios’ newly announced strategic partnership in the UK documentary space.