FormatBiz | Fremantle inks first-look deal with Michael Winterbottom’s Revolution Films

Fremantle, world leader in creating, producing and distributing content, announced an exclusive first-look deal with BAFTA-winning director Michael Winterbottom and his production company Revolution Films. Based in the UK, Revolution Films will develop and produce scripted series and films with Fremantle co-producing and distributing the projects worldwide. The deal is done in collaboration with Richard Brown and his company Passenger.

Winterbottom is the extraordinarily prolific and versatile filmmaker behind Palm D’Or nominees Welcome to Sarajevo, Wonderland and 24 Hour Party People in addition to many highly acclaimed films including A Cock And Bull Story, Code 46, The Killer Inside Me and Golden Bear winning In This World. Revolution has a track record of making award winning television including The Trip, Red Riding, Everyday, The Road to Guantanamo, The Unloved and Go Now – all of which were nominated for BAFTAs.

The first project through the partnership will be UK political drama This Sceptred Isle – a real-life drama series about an extraordinary period in the life of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, set against the backdrop of the global pandemic. Developed in partnership with Fremantle and Passenger, the series will tell the true story of the biggest national and personal crisis to face a government leader since World War II. The series will be co-written and directed by Winterbottom, with Melissa Parmenter (Revolution Films) and Richard Brown (Passenger) serving as Executive Producers. Tim Shipman, political editor of The Sunday Times, is acting as a consultant on the series.

Michael Winterbottom said: “We are very excited at the prospect of developing our film and television production with our new partners at Passenger and Fremantle. We want to provide a space where directors can have the freedom to develop and tell the stories they are passionate about.”

Andrea Scrosati, Group Chief Operating Officer, Fremantle added: “Our global drama slate is growing thanks to unique creative partnerships that we are building across the world. Michael is such an incredibly sophisticated and prolific auteur, his vision is inspiring and I admire the fact he continues to challenge the status quo. I am so proud that he and Melissa have chosen Fremantle as their creative partner and I look forward to the great content we will develop together.”

Richard Brown added: “On a personal note I think Michael is among the most inspiring filmmakers working today, and it’s a great privilege to be joining forces with him and his Revolution Films team. One of the objectives behind my partnership with Fremantle is to forge ongoing collaborations with world class talents such as Michael, exemplified by this exciting relationship with Revolution.”

This partnership is the latest in a series of high-profile talent deals for Fremantle including with Richard Brown’s Passenger Films, Pablo Larrain and Juan de Dios Larrain, Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Sorrentino, Neil Gaiman and Neil Cross to name a few.