BAFTA-winning producer Patrick Spence is leaving ITV Studios after three years, Variety has confirmed. Spence, who serves as creative director, will leave at the end of March, ITV Studios managing director Julian Bellamy told staff via an internal memo on Thursday. Spence will continue to partner with ITV Studios on upcoming projects including “People vs….
Ajay Devgn Talks ‘Bholaa,’ Lauds ‘RRR’ Oscar Success, Sets ‘Singham 3’ Start Date (EXCLUSIVE)
Bollywood A-lister Ajay Devgn returns to the director’s chair with “Bholaa,” in which he also stars alongside Tabu. This is Devgn’s fourth directorial effort after “U Me Aur Hum” (2008), “Shivaay” (2016) and “Runway 34” (2022). A remake of 2019 Tamil-language hit “Kaithi,” “Bholaa” follows a prisoner who is going to meet his young daughter…
Mediapro Studio, Banijay, Zeta, Filmax Titles at Series Mania Underscore Spain’s Streamer Power
Coming Next from Spain, a showcase of five series, unspooled at Series Mania on March 21 just after a Spanish series, “Wrong Side of the Tracks” from Mediaset España and Alea Media, had scored 149.6 million watching hours in three weeks on Netflix for Seasons 1 and 2. That platform connection and power of Spanish…
BBC Reverses Controversial Decision to Disband Its Leading Choir BBC Singers
The BBC has reversed a controversial decision to disband its professional choir, the BBC Singers. The corporation confirmed on Friday that it’s “suspending” the proposal to close the group, and that the BBC Singers will also appear in this summer’s annual classical concert series, the BBC Proms. In a statement, the BBC said it has…
Five Series Pitched at Series Mania as Taiwan Strengthens its Claim in Chinese-Language TV Production
Taiwan has become a go-to destination for Chinese language series production over the past few years, as international streamers have taken the initiative and as the local content trend has become entrenched in Asia. While some of Taiwan’s advantage may have been handed to it as a result of regional political factors, the movement has…
Iranian Series Mania Breakout ‘The Actor’ Finds Truth in Make-Believe
For writers of hardboiled fiction, the private eye could act as a conduit, an unmoored guide moving freely across social ranks and situations. For director Nima Javidi – whose new series “The Actor” is the first Iranian production to premiere in competition at Series Mania – the thespian might play a similar role. “Shakespeare said…
‘Top Gear’ Halted After Andrew Flintoff Crash
The BBC has halted filming on season 34 of “Top Gear” after presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was involved in an accident on the show’s test track in December 2022. The BBC said that halting the show would be “disappointing to fans, but it is the right thing to do. Under the circumstances, we feel it…
Netflix Launches ‘Maestro in Blue,’ Its First Pick-Up of a TV Series From Greece
Continuing its global territorial expansion, Netflix picked up and is now streaming Greek TV series “Maestro in Blue,” its first-ever exclusive worldwide distribution deal for a Greek scripted series. Created for Greek broadcaster Mega TV by multihyphenate Christoforos Papakaliatis, “Maestro” was launched on the platform internationally on March 17 and this week hit the global…
Hybe to Sell SM Entertainment Stake After Losing to Kakao in K-Pop Bid Battle
Hybe Corp., the talent powerhouse behind K-pop sensation BTS, said on Friday that it will sell its share stake in agency rival SM Entertainment. The move would finalize Hybe’s admission of defeat in a dramatic takeover battle in which it was out-gunned by Korean tech leader Kakao Corp. Hybe initially bought a 14.8% stake in…
‘Reborn Rich,’ Hit Korea Drama Series, Set for Thai Remake at Viu
Multi-territory Asian streaming platform Viu is to deliver a Thai version of hit drama series “Reborn Rich.” The 16-episode Korean drama was produced by Korea’s JTBC Studios and Viu, aired on JTBC in Korea between November and December 2022 and was branded as a Viu Original in the 16-territoires in which it operates. Its story…