Odeon Entertainment Rebrands as Madame Zheng Production

LEONINE Studios has realigned its production company Odeon Entertainment under the new brand name Madame Zheng Production.

Tina Wagner, previously producer and executive producer at Redseven Entertainment, and Nina Etspüler, co-head of entertainment at LEONINE Studios, are joining the management team. They will lead the company under Wagner’s direction, along with Martin Schneider, Odeon Entertainment’s long-standing managing director.

Wagner’s credits include Moms Make Porn, Kiss Bang Love, Five Senses of Love, Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds and Married at First Sight.

Etspüler, who was previously group creative director of Red Arrow Studios, was responsible for global format and content development as well as acquisitions and international market launches at the company. She’s been involved with such formats as Old People’s Homes for 4 Year Olds, Kiss Bang Love, Buying Blind—Das Hauskauf Experiment and Look Me in the Eye. She spent over ten years as executive producer at ProSiebenSat.1.

Fred Kogel, CEO and co-head of entertainment at LEONINE Studios, said: “Ever since Nina Etspüler joined LEONINE in January 2021, we have jointly pursued the goal of establishing a production brand that advocates for equality and diversity in front of and behind the camera, in order to firmly anchor these themes, which are essential for LEONINE Studios, in the production market. The entertainment sector in Germany, in particular, has a lot of catching up to do, which is why we want to consciously champion equality and diversity. I am very pleased that we can now put our plans into practice with such a distinguished and talented colleague as Tina Wagner. Madame Zheng Production perfectly complements our existing entertainment brands i&u TV and SEO Entertainment. In its entirety, LEONINE Studios now covers an even broader spectrum within nonfiction production. This will generate further growth for our LEONINE Production division.”

Wagner added: “We want to create programs that appeal to everyone and don’t limit ourselves to specific genres or target audiences. Our main focus is to develop entertaining, value-driven and glamorous formats that are visually innovative, recognizable and unique. The new company name reflects our brand essence. Madame Zheng, the name of a legendary pirate, symbolizes for us a strong unconventional woman who is very successful at what she does. And that’s how we’re starting out now—ready to conquer the TV landscape. I’m very excited to embark on this journey with Nina Etspüler, Martin Schneider and our great, professional team as part of LEONINE Studios.”

Etspüler said: “Equality and diversity are part of the core values that guide LEONINE Studios’ corporate strategy. I am very excited that they will now become even more visible and tangible with Madame Zheng. Tina Wagner has already produced many outstanding, innovative and successful television formats. Now, as Madame Zheng Production, we want to create television programs that people talk about.”

Schneider, managing director of Madame Zheng Production, said: “I look forward to working with Tina Wagner, Nina Etspüler and the entire team under the flag of Madame Zheng.”