FME Bulks Up Drama Slate

LONDON: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) is continuing to add to its drama catalogue, with the new series The Reckoning joining its slate in time for MIPTV. 

The Reckoning stars Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty, Extras) alongside Max Beesley (Survivors, Hotel Babylon). The drama is about a single mother who stands to inherit £5 million from a mysterious benefactor on one condition: she must kill a man. Her daughter is ill and in need of an expensive treatment, so the proposition of the money draws her into a game that challenges her moral code. The Reckoning is written by Chris Lang (Hustle, Torn, Primeval), produced by Jeremy Gwilt (Monarch of the Glen, The Little House) and directed by Jim O’Hanlon (The House of Saddam, Emma). The drama is produced by TXTV for ITV1, and is expected to premiere in the U.K. in the second quarter of 2011. 

Sold as either 2×1-hour or 1×2-hours, the series joins FME’s other MIPTV drama highlights such as The Sinking of the Laconia, Exile and The Crimson Petal and the White.

David Ellender, the global CEO of FME, commented, “The Reckoning is part of our first-look deal with TXTV and is a brilliant drama that we’re confident will travel really well. Since 2009, we’ve been steadily building a portfolio of high-quality, compelling drama from around the world and The Reckoning is a very important part of our catalogue.”

Jeremy Gwilt, producer and managing director of TXTV, added, “We are delighted that our creative collaboration with FME made it possible to bring The Reckoning to the screen and we feel sure it will enjoy broad international appeal.”