Fremantle Buys Majority Stake in Element Pictures

Fremantle has taken a majority stake in the production company Element Pictures, which is behind such successful series and films as Normal People, The Favourite and Room.

Element Pictures’ upcoming TV productions include Conversations with Friends, based on Sally Rooney’s debut literary hit. The 12-part series was developed and produced by Element Pictures and will premiere on the BBC and Hulu on May 15 and roll out globally soon after.

Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, founders of Element Pictures, said: “Element Pictures is 21 years old this year, and it is incredibly exciting for us and our wonderful colleagues to be entering a new and ambitious phase of growth in partnership with our friends at Fremantle at a truly exhilarating time for our industry. We are huge fans of the people at Fremantle, their vision for the future and the extraordinary talent they are working with across film and television. Collaborating closely with Jen, Andrea, Lorenzo, Christian, Jens and their brilliant team will allow us to build on and grow our existing relationships with the very best creators in the world and expand our capacity to make exceptional film and television drama for international audiences.”

Andrea Scrosati, Fremantle’s group COO and CEO for Continental Europe, said: “Fremantle is proud to be investing and partnering with the very best creative minds in the business. Ed, Andrew and the amazing Element Pictures team certainly fall into this category. They have built an astonishing company, which has become one of Europe’s most exciting and innovative creative production companies. We look forward to working closely with their immensely talented creatives, helping to build on their slate of high-quality, sophisticated and powerful productions. Creative freedom will sit at the very heart of this partnership, and everyone at Fremantle is excited to be working with the Element Pictures team and supporting their growth internationally.”