Fremantle Places Two Dramas with FOX Italia

Fremantle has inked a distribution deal with FOX Italia for two upcoming drama series: Butterfly and Beck is Back.

Created and penned by BAFTA Award-winning screenwriter Tony Marchant, Butterfly is about the complex relationship between separated parents. It stars International Emmy Award winner Anna Friel (Marcella, Broken). Butterfly was commissioned by ITV in the U.K. and produced by RED Production Company and AENON.

FOX Italia also picked up the first season of the German drama Beck is Back. The series follows Hannes Beck, a father of four and a househusband whose wife cheats on him. He throws her out and ends up alone with his children. Now, for the first time, Hannes needs a job. As a trained lawyer, and with the help of his quick-witted household help Jasmina, he must take on the role of duty solicitor, as well as some of the toughest cases in town. Beck is Back was produced by UFA Fiction for RTL Germany.

Al De Azpiazu, VP of sales and distribution for Western Europe, International, Fremantle, said: “We are excited to partner with FOX Italia to showcase these two unique dramas from excellent European producers to Italian audiences. At their heart, Butterfly and Beck is Back are both emotionally gripping modern family dramas, which we hope viewers across Italy will love.”

Alessandro Saba, VP, head of entertainment at Fox Networks Group Italy, said: “This deal represents a great opportunity to highlight Fox Networks Group Italy’s editorial strategy, which shows no fear in dealing with sensitive and contemporary issues like the ones portrayed by Butterfly and Beck is Back. The deal also grants us the opportunity to strengthen the partnership we started years ago with Fremantle co-producing the Italian version of Farmer Wants a Wife and a new local scripted series, Romolo+Giuly, which is gaining both successful ratings and critical acclaim.”