The EVP of Coproduction and Distribution at Fremantle LatAm shared with ttvnews the titles the company is presenting at this year’s event in Los Angeles, covering formats and fiction across multiple genres.
This first quarter of the year has been a fruitful one for Fremantle, with several deals signed with international partners in Latin America and the world, and new original productions underway, including the renewed partnership with Fabula in Chile.
And now, the producer and distributor is present in LA Screenings with an array of new titles for the international market, including the six-part series Hagan, based on Wolfgang Hohlbein’s bestselling novel Hagen von Tronje, which was the inspiration behind Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. “We will be offering a peak preview with a trailer,” said Sheila Aguirre, EVP of Coproduction and Distribution at Fremantle LatAm, who spoke to ttvnews about the company’s goals for the event.
How has the first quarter of the year been for Fremantle in LatAm? What deals would you highlight?
Despite industry challenges, I am pleased with our progress since the beginning of the year. We have closed several deals in the region.
WarnerMedia has licensed the second season of Reyka, a fourth season of Justice Those Who Kill, and the final and fourth, much-awaited season of My Brilliant Friend. AMC has acquired second seasons of The King and The Responder. The third season of 60 Days on the Estates has gone to Discovery. DirecTV is bringing Jamie Oliver back to the region with two series: Jamie: Keep Cooking & Carry On; and Jamie’s 15 Minutes Meals. America’s Got Talent (S19) returns to the Sony Channel. Willax in Peru has licensed Baywatch. And lastly, CNC 3 (Trinidad & Tobago) licensed America’s Got Talent S19 & Family Feud S20.
Just a few weeks ago, Fremantle announced the renewal of its co-production alliance with Fabula in Chile. What can you tell us about this new agreement? How important is local production in Chile for Fremantle?
We recently renewed our first look deal with Fabula extending the partnership to include film. Managed by Fremantle CEO for Global Drama, Christian Vesper, the association has seen the fruition of a number of notable series including two seasons of Senorita ’89, two seasons of La Jauria, and the limited series El Refugio.
Coming soon, other projects include, the ten-part Mexican drama series Midnight Family launching on Apple TV+; Sebastian Lelio’s film musical The Wave, produced in association with Participant Media and inspired by the 2018 mass Chilean feminist protests; and the highly-anticipated biographical film Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, and directed by Pablo Larrain.
Speaking of local production, what is the group’s current strategy in terms of content production and distribution in the region? Which territories are the most important or have been more fruitful in your relationship with the group?
Unlike the studio structure, Fremantle is largely decentralized. Over the years, Fremantle has continually built and strengthened a network of local production offices in countries around the globe. This structure allows to satisfy local appetites and has been the driver for our format business. At the same time, Fremantle has both global drama and factual divisions centralized in London. These global entities work with both independent labels that have become part of the Fremantle family as well as local Fremantle production offices in different countries to create content with a more global, wider-reaching, appeal and which Fremantle International then distributes.
English-language content featuring globally acclaimed casts is the present-day demand. In the current environment, we are finding that platforms are more averse to risk and, therefore, mainstream content is the preferred choice. Moreover, platforms want returnable series because it allows them to stretch their marketing dollars.
Fremantle is one of the most recognized production companies internationally, both in scripted and unscripted terms. In this sense, what new features will you be presenting at the next edition of the LA Screenings? What are your expectations for the event?
On the scripted side, we are presenting:
Big Mood (6×30). One of our top picks for the 2024 LA Screenings, this six-part dramedy, produced by Dancing Ledge Productions (The Responder, Wedding Season), and starring Nicola Couglan (Bridgerton, Deery Girls, Barbie), has been getting global rave reviews. Big Mood portrays female friendship infiltrated by the complexities of a serious mental illness, delivering the message in a light and appropriately humorous way. Currently airing in the US on Tubi and in the UK on Channel 4, Brazil and Mexico have been among the highest ranking countries in social media engagement for the series globally.
The Listeners (6×1). Produced by Element Pictures (Poor Things, Normal People) and starring Rebecca Hall (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, The Prestige, Vicky Cristina Barcelona), this provocative psychological thriller is about a woman who is tormented by a sound it seems no-one else can hear. Increasingly isolated from her family, she forms an unlikely, questionable bond with one of her students and is drawn towards a strange community who also hears The Hum…
Daddy Issues (6×30). Produced by Fudge Park (The Inbetweeners, White Gold) and featuring Amy Lou Wood (Alice & Jack, Sex Education) and David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, Sherwood, Britannia, Sense & Sensibility) — An unexpected pregnancy leads to an unusual living arrangement in this funny, affectionate comedy about two chaotic, deeply flawed characters – who just happen to be father and daughter.
Costiera (6×50’). Produced by Luxe Vide in cooperation with Prime Video Italy, this action-packed crime series is directed by Emmy-Award winner Adam Bernstein (30 Rock, Breaking Bad) and stars Jesse Williams (Only Murders in the Building, Grey’s Anatomy).
Faithless (6×60). Produced by Miso Films in cooperation with Sweden’s SVT and ARTE, this emotional tale relates the story of a love triangle driven by lust, jealousy and betrayal. Faithless is adapted from a script by multi Academy Award-winner Ingmar Bergman, and was created by acclaimed director Tomas Alfredson and award-winning writer Sara Johnsen.
On the unscripted side, we are presenting:
A Brief History of the Future (6×60) co-produced by Untold, Futurific Studios and Dream Crew, A Brief History of the Future is the radical and uplifting new documentary series which acts as an inspiring counterpoint to the often-dystopian view of our future. Hosted by renowned futurist Ari Wallach, who travels across the USA, Spain, UK, Japan, India, Morocco, Canada and the Bahamas to discover totally new ways of thinking, science and technologies that show the opportunities that can reshape how we live for generations to come.
Origin: The Story of the Africa Basketball League (BAL), this 4 part documentary, from Passenger Pictures for ESPN, is an ode to the transformative power of sport and how the vision of BAL is changing lives and destinies across the whole of the African continent. This is the story of 12 teams, from across Africa, who were brought together to compete in the first NBA league outside of the US ever. A pivotal moment in the history of the sport, this documentary traces the foundations of the BAL and the revolution of global basketball forever.
Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar (3×60). Produced by Academy Award winning Passion Pictures with Executive Producer Kim Kardashian (who is deeply committed to bringing Taylor’s life to screen for a new generation and was the last person to interview her in 2011), this definitive series gives privileged access to the star with never-before-heard tapes; insights from her closest family and friends, alongside rich archive of her movies, as well as reflections from high profile celebrities who still embrace her legacy today. Revealing the secrets behind the legend, this, at last, is the real Elizabeth Taylor.
What original projects does Fremantle have lined up for the second half of the year? Any news you can reveal to us?
I’m particularly excited about a six-part series called Hagen, being produced for RTL by Constantin Television, which will be delivering early 2025 and will be distributed by Fremantle International. The series, a medieval fantasy drama based on Wolfgang Hohlbein’s bestselling novel Hagen von Tronje, which was the inspiration behind Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, has tremendous potential to be a top choice of platforms around the globe. During the LA Screenings we will be offering a peak preview with a trailer.
