Scripted

BBC Studios announced today its first ever scripted format license to Italy with I Want My Wife Back. Originally a co-production from Mainstreet Pictures and Busby Productions in the UK, the Italian adaptation will be known locally as Ridatemi Mia Moglie, and produced by Sky and Colorado film. Two 90-minute episodes will start filming this month and will air on Sky Italia in 2021.

Award-winning director, Alessandro Genovesi (When Mom Is Away; The Worst Week of My Life) will direct the local adaptation with Fabio de Luigi (Let Me Introduce You to Sofia; The Worst Week of My Life) in the lead role. The modern romantic comedy follows nice guy Murray who discovers his wife is leaving him. As Murray struggles to win her back, he enters a questionable mission to resurrect his marriage.

Andre Renaud, SVP Global Format sales for BBC Studios said "Italian scripted production has continued to go from strength to strength over the last few years, with both drama and comedy each bringing a unique tone of voice and finding new viewers around the world. It is a pleasure to know that I Want My Wife Back will be our first scripted format adaptation in Italy and I am delighted that Colorado film and Sky Italia are the ones to bring it to life. We have seen a growing interest in our scripted comedies and I look forward to celebrating more commissions of the formats we have launching for MIPCOM.”

Alessandro Usai, CEO of Colorado film said: "As an independent producer I'm thrilled to collaborate with two ‘giants of the audiovisual industry such as Sky Italia and BBC Studios, on such a project. Colorado film has a strong tradition in producing comedies which are box office hits in Italy. Here the stakes are even higher, if possible, given the origin of the IP (BBC Studios together with Mainstreet Pictures and Busby Productions in the UK) and our Italian partner (Sky Italia). But we are ready to take the challenge of bringing the audience from movie theatres to television".

The agreement with Colorado film was brokered by Tommaso Muffato, Format sales executive for BBC Studios.