BBC Worldwide & Ovation Team Up for Doors Open

SANTA MONICA: Ovation has inked its first co-production pact with BBC Worldwide Americas for the TV movie Doors Open, starring Stephen Fry and Douglas Henshall.

Doors Open is produced by Fry’s Sprout Pictures for ITV1 in association with Ovation. The movie will make its U.S. debut in the second quarter of 2013. It is based on a 2008 crime novel by Ian Rankin.

“Doors Open is a complex, fun script with many twists and turns,” said Kris Slava, the senior VP of programming and production at Ovation. “Dougie Henshall leads a first-class cast, and of course, we’re huge fans of Stephen Fry—he brings intelligence and sparkle to everything he touches. The art theme lands this film squarely within Ovation’s wheelhouse, but what really sold us on the project was the script. Based on one of Ian Rankin’s non-Rebus novels, it’s both a fast-paced art caper, and a good love story. It will play well to a U.S. audience, and we are delighted to be a part of it.”

Matt Forde, the executive VP of sales and co-productions at BBC Worldwide Americas, added, “This co-production deal was a terrific opportunity for us to bring an innovative network and an acclaimed producer together on a great project. With its riveting story line and star cast, Doors Open is sure to thrill audiences in the U.S.”