‘Bergerac,’ ‘Wolf Hall’ and Titles From Eva Longoria, Sarah Jessica Parker Headline Banijay’s Jam-Packed Mipcom Lineup (EXCLUSIVE)
Banijay Entertainment is offering an exclusive early look at its jam-packed Mipcom lineup, featuring plenty of crime dramas, historical epics, popular formats and non-fiction projects from Eva Longoria and Sarah Jessica Parker.
“Our dynamic line-up for this year’s Mipcom truly highlights the continued growth and global appeal of our catalog,” said Banijay Rights CEO Cathy Payne. “From riveting dramas such as ‘Bergerac’ and ‘Wolf Hall’ to high-end factual series like ‘Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain,’ we are eager to present a diverse and competitive slate that celebrates the power of storymaking and the outstanding talent behind our IP.”
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Banijay Chief Content Officer, Development James Townley and Chief Content Officer, Operations Lucas Green added: “Our offering of distinctive and fresh formats coming from the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, U.K. and the U.S., underscores our commitment to creating popular IP like ‘Three Are The Champions,’ and evolving classic favorites like ‘By Land, Air and Sea.’ The success of our new traveling hits, ‘The Summit’ and ‘Deal or No Deal Island,’ speaks to the creativity of our talented teams across the footprint, and illustrates our expertise in building the next generation of superbrands.”
Below, a look at the TV titles Banijay is bringing to this year’s Mipcom.
Scripted
“Bergerac”
Ordered by UKTV’s U&Drama and its free streaming platform U, this series reimagines the 1980s original, honoring it while adding a contemporary twist. Unlike the original serial, this reboot will include one character-led murder mystery spread our across all six episodes. The series is produced by Banijay company BlackLight TV and written by Toby Whithouse (“The Red King”), alongside Brian Fillis (“Trust”), Catherine Tregenna (“The One That Got Away”) and Polly Buckle (“Love Rat”).
“Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light”
Heading to BBC and Masterpiece PBS, following on 2015’s “Wolf Hall,” a major hit, this new Henry VIII-era series, based on the final novel in Hilary Mantel’s multi-award-winning trilogy again stars Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell, Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII among others. Directed once more by seven-time BAFTA-winner Peter Kosminsky (“The Undeclared War”) and adapted again by Academy award nominee Peter Straughan (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), the series is produced by Playground “All Creatures Great and Small”) and Company Pictures (“Van Der Valk”). A major Banijay proposition.
“The One That Got Away”
Set on the Welsh coast, this crime drama is written by Catherine Tregenna (“The Bench”) and stars Elen Rhys (“The Mallorca Files”), Richard Harrington (“Hinterland”) and Rhian Blythe (“The Light in the Hall”). All six episodes are directed by Sion Ifan (“The Secret”). After a nurse is murdered, a small town must face the possibility of a copycat killer. Blacklight is producing for S4C.
“We Go Again”
Created by Janice Okoh (“Sanditon”), based on her play “Three Birds.” This six-part series if made for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer by The Forge Entertainment (“The Buccaneers”). Described as an irreverent portrait of Black working-class teenage life, the series follows three optimistic siblings with a dark secret.
“The Feud”
Starring Jill Halfpenny and Rupert Penry-Jones, Lonesome Pine Productions produces this six-part domestic thriller in association with Banijay Rights and North East Screen. Written and created by Aschlin Ditta (“The Inheritance”), episodes are directed by Andy de Emmony (“Lucky Man”) for Channel 5.
“A Remarkable Place to Die”
Created by Screentime New Zealand and produced with Real Film Berlin in association with Banijay Entertainment for TVNZ, ZDF, and Acorn, this crime drama turns on Detective Anais Mallory, who returns to her hometown only to be met with a series of vastly different and interesting murders. The series was created by Philly de Lacey with writer John Banas. Directors are Peter Burger, Josh Frizzell, Caroline Bell-Booth, and Charlie Haskell.
“Accidentally Famous”
Inspired by the story of how Italian pop band 883 was formed, this drama series is co-produced by Sky Studios and Groenlandia and directed by Groenlandia’s Sydney Sibilia as well as Francesco Ebbasta and Alice Filippi. The series was written by Francesco Agostini, Chiara Laudani and Giorgio Nerone.
“The Family Detective”
Shine Fiction leads production for this TF1-commissioned crime drama about a couple obsessed with crime novels and their police captain daughter, who receives, but never needs, their help.
“SAS Rogue Heroes” Season 2
Written and created for television by Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders”), this series is produced by Kudos and co-produced by MGM+ for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Inspired by Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name, Season 2 of this WWII military drama is directed by Stephen Woolfenden (“Outlander”).
Formats
“By Land, Air and Sea”
One of Banijay’s biggest non-fiction shows at Mipcom, the longest-running entertainment program on Dutch television is returning and will be available to watch on RTL from Aug. 31. The four-part series is produced by EndemolShine Nederland, part of Banijay Benelux.
“Three are the Champions”
This prime-time family competition series sees three celebs compete as a team against unique experts and champions from a wide range of activities. The series performed as the top show of its night for its commercial demo.
“Dream Home”
A competitive home renovation show produced by Endemol Shine Australia for Seven Network. Hosted by Chris Brown, the series pits pairs of Aussies head-to-head renovating suburban family homes, with the winning couple scoring an AUD100,000 ($145,000) prize.
“Origin Odyssey”
Another title from down under, this one features comedian Shaun Micallef on a journey through culture and heritage by spotlighting local traditions. Endemol Shine Australia produces.
“Headliners”
The Aussie hat trick is completed by “Headliners,” a music-themed social experiment program for ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Hosted by Elly-May Barnes, the series sets out to create two bands composed entirely of members living with disability.
“The Never Ever Mets”
From Bunim Murray Productions for OWN, this reality show follows seven couples who are virtual dating with the hopes of sparking a real-life love. During the show, all seven couples will be brought together to live under a single roof.
“The Fortune Hotel”
10 couples are invited to a luxurious tropical hotel in this competition series with a cash prize of ￡250,000 ($335,000). The ITV1 and ITVX series is produced by creators Tuesday’s Child who also retain the rights to produce the format in the U.S.
“The Summit”
Another high-profile Banijay title, an 9Network and Endemol Shine Australia “adrenaline-fueled” original series, produced by Endemol Shine Australia, with already a second season in the works and a first international adaptation for CBS by Endemol Shine North America. In the show, a group of strangers carrying an equal share of 1 million Australian dollars must reach the peak of a distant mountain in just 14 days. It’s a “tale of endurance, survival and greed.”
“Master Chef: Dessert Masters”
Spinning off from one of TV’s most popular cooking shows ever, “Dessert Masters” is produced by Endemol Shine Brasil for Brazilian broadcaster Band. This is the first international adaptation of the Shine Australia-created series, which will begin airing in Brazil in November.
“Deal or No Deal Island”
Get ready for a complete reimagining of the iconic game show – now, presented as an epic adventure. This new spin-off series for NBC – from Endemol Shine North America – is set on the banker’s private island as he searches for his ultimate opponent in a high-stakes competition. After all, there is over $200,000,000 up for grabs.
Factual
“Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain”
Announced at Warner Bros. Discovery’s upfront in May, this travel series revives the “Desperate Housewives” star’s “Searching For” franchise. Heading to CNN, the show is produced by Hyphenate Media Group.
“Atomic People”
Produced by Minnow Films for the BBC, this documentary explores the human fallout from the first and last atomic bombs used in the act of war by speaking with the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacks by the United States military.
“7/7: Three Weeks in July”
This docu-series is produced by Slate Work and revisits the 2005 U.K. terror attack where 52 people were killed when three trains and a bus were blown up by suicide bombers. The 4×60 series is headed to BBC Two and iPlayer.
“Front Row”
Scenery, a joint venture with Banijay Benelux, is partnering with Sarah Jessica Parker’s Pretty Matches Productions on this documentary feature about a group of Ukrainian ballet dancers. Jessica Parker is executive producing alongside The Ruderman Foundation.
“Lara: The Man Who Tried to Save Colombia”
Another feature documentary from Scenery, this time about Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, a Colombian lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Justice and was assassinated by orders of Pablo Escobar.
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