FremantleMedia has taken a 25% stake in Corona TV, as it looks to “build its scripted pipeline” and attract international co-production funding.
Corona TV is a newly-created TV production company from filmmaking duo Richard Johns and Rupert Jermyn, with whom Fremantle has already worked with. Johns and Jermyn are also responsible for Corona Pictures, founded in 2009, which has produced and released a number feature films and TV programmes to countries all over the world.
In recent years Corona Pictures produced the multiple award-winning film The Liability, starring Tim Roth, Jack O’Connell, Talulah Riley, Kierston Wareing and Peter Mullan.
The new deal between Fremantle and Corona TV was brokered by Fremantle’s director of global drama, Sarah Doole, who will also take a seat on the board of the new company.
“Richard and Rupert have together over twenty five years’ experience in producing successful feature films,” said Doole. “Because of this, they look at scripted projects in a completely different way from most production companies, bringing a big screen presence to the small screen.
“We’ve looked at their production slate and they have some exciting ideas which are ripe for international co-production funding. Having them as part of the FremantleMedia family gives us some brilliant projects for our scripted pipeline, while our existing infrastructure will help bring their epic ideas to fruition.”
Johns and Jermyn added: “As film-makers we have always created big stories for the world rather than one particular market. This move gives Corona Television the strategic financing, distribution and marketing firepower most drama producers can only dream of, allowing us to tell stories for TV on a truly global scale.”
