Lenny Henry has launched a new production company backed by Banijay U.K.
Titled Esmerelda, the new venture will focus on drama and comedy with an emphasis on under-represented voices.
Henry, an actor, comedian and writer, will take the position of joint co-managing director of the company alongside producer, writer and director Jon Sen.
Henry most recently starred in “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and is soon set to launch his latest series, “Three Little Birds,” for ITV. Henry wrote the show while “Doctor Who” show runner Russell T Davies and Tiger Aspect’s Lucy Bedford exec produce.
Henry founded production company Douglas Road in 2014 and will stand down as CEO to focus on Esmerelda.
Douglas Road Productions will continue to be run by managing director Angela Ferreira.
Jon recently held a role at BBC Studios as an executive producer and development exec where he also helmed “Casualty” and “EastEnders.
Titled Esmerelda, the new venture will focus on drama and comedy with an emphasis on under-represented voices.
Henry, an actor, comedian and writer, will take the position of joint co-managing director of the company alongside producer, writer and director Jon Sen.
Henry most recently starred in “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and is soon set to launch his latest series, “Three Little Birds,” for ITV. Henry wrote the show while “Doctor Who” show runner Russell T Davies and Tiger Aspect’s Lucy Bedford exec produce.
Henry founded production company Douglas Road in 2014 and will stand down as CEO to focus on Esmerelda.
Douglas Road Productions will continue to be run by managing director Angela Ferreira.
Jon recently held a role at BBC Studios as an executive producer and development exec where he also helmed “Casualty” and “EastEnders.
- 10/23/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Lenny Henry has launched a scripted production outfit backed by the £50M ($61M) Banijay UK Growth Fund.
Henry is helming Esmerelda Productions with former EastEnders and Casualty exec Jon Sen. It will produce drama and comedy shows with an emphasis on working with under-represented writers, cast and crew.
British comedy legend and diversity lobbyist Henry will step down as CEO of his current Banijay-backed production house Douglas Road, with MD Angela Ferreira taking the reins. That company just saw ITV launch Three Little Birds, Henry’s drama inspired by the experience of his family settling in the UK in the 1950s, which was exec produced by Russell T Davies.
Banijay’s investment will enable Esmerelda to build its team and slate, while the deal includes a first look with distributor Banijay Rights. Banijay’s Growth Fund has so far taken stakes in the likes of James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky’s Rabbit Track,...
Henry is helming Esmerelda Productions with former EastEnders and Casualty exec Jon Sen. It will produce drama and comedy shows with an emphasis on working with under-represented writers, cast and crew.
British comedy legend and diversity lobbyist Henry will step down as CEO of his current Banijay-backed production house Douglas Road, with MD Angela Ferreira taking the reins. That company just saw ITV launch Three Little Birds, Henry’s drama inspired by the experience of his family settling in the UK in the 1950s, which was exec produced by Russell T Davies.
Banijay’s investment will enable Esmerelda to build its team and slate, while the deal includes a first look with distributor Banijay Rights. Banijay’s Growth Fund has so far taken stakes in the likes of James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky’s Rabbit Track,...
- 10/23/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Producing
“The Crown” actor Derek Jacobi has boarded David Bartlett’s short film “Mousie” as executive producer, Variety can exclusively reveal. The film, which is produced by Will Poole (“Waffle the Wonder Dog”), tells the story of a seven-year-old Roma girl who seeks sanctuary from the Nazis in a decaying Weimar Cabaret Club.
“’Mousie’ is such a beautiful film – original, heartbreaking, yet also uplifting,” says Jacobi, who played the Duke of Windsor in Netflix’s royal series. “It is so relevant and provocative too. Amid really atmospheric cinematography and art direction, David Bartlett’s exquisite direction has delivered the most arresting performances, led by a remarkable young child. ‘Mousie’ is unmissable.”
Writer and director Bartlett began his career at the BBC where he worked on dramatizations including “The Great Train Robbery” and “The Hitler Diaries.” “Mousie,” which is eligible for Academy Award consideration, has screened at the Dublin International Film Festival,...
“The Crown” actor Derek Jacobi has boarded David Bartlett’s short film “Mousie” as executive producer, Variety can exclusively reveal. The film, which is produced by Will Poole (“Waffle the Wonder Dog”), tells the story of a seven-year-old Roma girl who seeks sanctuary from the Nazis in a decaying Weimar Cabaret Club.
“’Mousie’ is such a beautiful film – original, heartbreaking, yet also uplifting,” says Jacobi, who played the Duke of Windsor in Netflix’s royal series. “It is so relevant and provocative too. Amid really atmospheric cinematography and art direction, David Bartlett’s exquisite direction has delivered the most arresting performances, led by a remarkable young child. ‘Mousie’ is unmissable.”
Writer and director Bartlett began his career at the BBC where he worked on dramatizations including “The Great Train Robbery” and “The Hitler Diaries.” “Mousie,” which is eligible for Academy Award consideration, has screened at the Dublin International Film Festival,...
- 11/12/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Jon Sen, the exec of BBC1’s long-running soap EastEnders, is moving to oversee Casualty and two new high-end drama projects for BBC Studios, with Holby City producer Chris Clenshaw taking over EastEnders.
Sen has been helming EastEnders, which is produced by BBC Studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire, for the last three years, during which time he has overseen storylines tackling domestic violence and sexual abuse, along with the soap’s 35th anniversary. He also steered the show through the Covid-19 pandemic, helping implement stringent protocols as the show dropped from 30 to 20 minutes per ep but returned to air shortly after the UK production hiatus set in.
He will take on Casualty along with two new high-end drama projects greenlit by BBC Studios, replacing Deborah Sathe on the former, who had been exec-ing temporarily following the departure of Simon Harper.
Th two new high-end projects are yet to be announced. The...
Sen has been helming EastEnders, which is produced by BBC Studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire, for the last three years, during which time he has overseen storylines tackling domestic violence and sexual abuse, along with the soap’s 35th anniversary. He also steered the show through the Covid-19 pandemic, helping implement stringent protocols as the show dropped from 30 to 20 minutes per ep but returned to air shortly after the UK production hiatus set in.
He will take on Casualty along with two new high-end drama projects greenlit by BBC Studios, replacing Deborah Sathe on the former, who had been exec-ing temporarily following the departure of Simon Harper.
Th two new high-end projects are yet to be announced. The...
- 11/12/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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