FME Inks Deal with New British Indie

LONDON, May 15: FremantleMedia
Enterprises (FME) has reached a first-look TV development deal with Origin, a
new British independent production outfit set up by David Thompson, previously
the head of BBC Films.

Origin will be focused on
creating original film and television drama. Thompson has executive-produced a
host of small-screen classics, including The Firm, Shadowlands, The Lost Prince,
The Gathering Storm and Miss
Austen Regrets. His cinema credits
include The Other Boleyn Girl,
and he is currently
executive-producing Revolutionary Road, starring Leonardo
DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, The Duchess with Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, and the forthcoming big-screen
version of Brideshead Revisited.
As a producer he has won a number of awards, including three BAFTAs, two Emmys
and Golden Globes, and has worked closely with global networks like HBO.

Thompson noted: “As well
as being enormously excited about my new venture, I am thrilled that such a
major international concern, as FME, has come on board. Their support will help
Origin create quality TV
drama that will capture an audience’s imagination around the world. And will
also play a part in maintaining Origin’s relationships with some of the best
writers, performers and directors around.”

David
Ellender, FME’s CEO, added: “David is a legend within the TV world; his
vision has produced some of the best dramas to hit our TV screens over the past
few years. We at FME are already eagerly anticipating Origin’s future projects
and very much looking forward to being associated with a company of such
calibre as this.”

—By CONTACT _Con-3E46825C1 c s l Irene Lew