VICE Media Acquires Cuba Pictures

VICE Media has taken control of Cuba Pictures from the Curtis Brown Group as it expands its scripted content business in the U.K.

VICE Studios is behind Gangs of London, Atomic for Sky and the upcoming film Bad Apples with Paramount. Cuba Pictures is producing The Walsh Sisters for BBC and RTE. The venture will continue to be led by Dixie Linder, reporting to Jamie Hall, VICE Studios’ co-president. Cuba founder Nick Marston will remain active with the company, working closely with the VICE Studios team.

The acquisition follows VICE Media’s distribution deal with ITV Studios and recent acquisition of London Alley Entertainment.

“We are impressed by the innovative shows that Cuba Pictures produces with global appeal, and this acquisition accelerates our Studios’ growth strategy in scripted content,” said Bruce Dixon, CEO of VICE Media. “This is the latest example of VICE’s momentum and successful turnaround.”

“I am very proud to have founded Cuba Pictures and to have been involved with such a great list of productions,” said Nick Marston, founder of Cuba and chairman of Curtis Brown’s television, film and theatre department. “From our first film, the remarkable Boy A in 2008, to The Walsh Sisters (currently filming), the distinguishing feature of Cuba Pictures has always been a fierce intelligence and an independent spirit, with some great clients of Curtis Brown at the heart of the creative process. I am sure that VICE Studios will continue this tradition, and I look forward to fruitful collaborations in the future.”

Linder said: “I couldn’t be more excited for the next chapter for Cuba alongside Jamie and the brilliant team at VICE Studios. Their passion and vision make them the perfect partners for this journey, and I can’t wait to see what we create together—while continuing our very special relationship with Curtis Brown.”

“Dixie and the team at Cuba Pictures have an exceptional track record in the scripted space, and I am thrilled to welcome them to VICE Studios,” said Hall. “Together we will produce incredibly compelling scripted content and extend VICE Studios’ global reach.”

“We were proud to be the first literary agency to build a production company and after 17 successful years of partnership and many award-winning productions we are delighted to see Cuba move to its next phase of growth with VICE Studios,” said Jonny Geller, CEO of Curtis Brown Group. “We will be continuing to work with our friends at Cuba who have brought so many of our clients’ projects to the screen.”

VICE Media is owned by Fortress Investment Group, Soros Capital Management, and Monroe Capital.