The CW has acquired the US rights to the action series “Professionals” starring Tom Welling, Brendan Fraser, and Elena Anaya.
The premiere date for the show’s U.S. broadcast debut will be announced at a later date.
“Professionals” follows Vincent Corbo (Welling), a top-tier security operative, who is paid to protect the interests of rich and powerful clients by any means necessary – legal or not. After a next-gen medical satellite explodes on launch, Corbo is hired by the rocket’s designer – billionaire futurist Peter Swann (Fraser) – who suspects sabotage. Complicating Corbo’s new gig is his former paramour and now Swann’s fiancée, medical visionary Dr. Grace Davila (Anaya), who is racing to help stave off a global catastrophe.
As Corbo and his team of veteran security professionals investigate the rocket disaster, they expose a lethal conspiracy of Swann’s corporate rivals, corrupt government officials, and a shadowy crime...
The premiere date for the show’s U.S. broadcast debut will be announced at a later date.
“Professionals” follows Vincent Corbo (Welling), a top-tier security operative, who is paid to protect the interests of rich and powerful clients by any means necessary – legal or not. After a next-gen medical satellite explodes on launch, Corbo is hired by the rocket’s designer – billionaire futurist Peter Swann (Fraser) – who suspects sabotage. Complicating Corbo’s new gig is his former paramour and now Swann’s fiancée, medical visionary Dr. Grace Davila (Anaya), who is racing to help stave off a global catastrophe.
As Corbo and his team of veteran security professionals investigate the rocket disaster, they expose a lethal conspiracy of Swann’s corporate rivals, corrupt government officials, and a shadowy crime...
- 9/14/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
The CW is continuing its interest in international series. The youth-skewing network has acquired Professionals, a loose remake of the Christian Slater-fronted action movie Soldiers of Fortune for Scandinavian SVOD service Viaplay.
The series, which was first revealed by Deadline in 2019, stars Smallville’s Welling as Vincent Corbo, a top-tier security operative, who is paid to protect the interests of rich and powerful clients by any means necessary – legal or not.
After a next-gen medical satellite explodes on launch, Corbo is hired by the rocket’s designer – billionaire futurist Peter Swann, played by Fraser, who suspects sabotage. Complicating Corbo’s new gig is his former paramour and now Swann’s fiancée, medical visionary Dr. Grace Davila, played by Wonder Woman’s Elena Anaya, who is racing to help stave off a global catastrophe. As Corbo and his team of veteran security professionals investigate the rocket disaster, they expose a...
The series, which was first revealed by Deadline in 2019, stars Smallville’s Welling as Vincent Corbo, a top-tier security operative, who is paid to protect the interests of rich and powerful clients by any means necessary – legal or not.
After a next-gen medical satellite explodes on launch, Corbo is hired by the rocket’s designer – billionaire futurist Peter Swann, played by Fraser, who suspects sabotage. Complicating Corbo’s new gig is his former paramour and now Swann’s fiancée, medical visionary Dr. Grace Davila, played by Wonder Woman’s Elena Anaya, who is racing to help stave off a global catastrophe. As Corbo and his team of veteran security professionals investigate the rocket disaster, they expose a...
- 9/14/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
AMC+ announced on Thursday that it has has acquired the rights to three crime drama series: Cold Courage, Kin and Too Close.
The first to premiere on the streaming service is Lionsgate’s Cold Courage, which will hit AMC+ on Thursday, March 11. Based on the award-winning and best-selling novels from Finnish journalist Pekka Hiltunen, Cold Courage follows two women as they collide during a series of murders in present-day London. Mari (Pihla Viitala), a fierce psychologist, and Lia (Sofia Pekkari), a shy graphic artist, are drawn together through the “Studio” – a clandestine group of like-minded people operating off the grid, dedicated to righting the wrongs of the powerful, influential and corrupt.
John Simm appears as populist politician Arthur Fried and joins fellow cast-members Caroline Goodall and Arsher Ali. Jakob Eklund, Peter Coonan and Matteo Simoni also star.
The series was adapted for the screen by David Joss Buckley and Brendan Foley.
The first to premiere on the streaming service is Lionsgate’s Cold Courage, which will hit AMC+ on Thursday, March 11. Based on the award-winning and best-selling novels from Finnish journalist Pekka Hiltunen, Cold Courage follows two women as they collide during a series of murders in present-day London. Mari (Pihla Viitala), a fierce psychologist, and Lia (Sofia Pekkari), a shy graphic artist, are drawn together through the “Studio” – a clandestine group of like-minded people operating off the grid, dedicated to righting the wrongs of the powerful, influential and corrupt.
John Simm appears as populist politician Arthur Fried and joins fellow cast-members Caroline Goodall and Arsher Ali. Jakob Eklund, Peter Coonan and Matteo Simoni also star.
The series was adapted for the screen by David Joss Buckley and Brendan Foley.
- 2/18/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Brendan Fraser Actioner ‘Professionals’ Finds Global Distribution With Rainmaker Content (Exclusive)
Rainmaker Content has picked up worldwide distribution rights from German studio Leonine for Brendan Fraser-starring action series “Professionals.” The project, which was completed during the global pandemic, will be shopped to buyers at next month’s virtual Mipcom market.
Commissioned by Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent Group) for streamer Viaplay, the cast includes Fraser (“Trust”), Tom Welling (“Smallville”), Elena Anaya (“Wonder Woman”), Saïd Taghmaoui (“John Wick 3”), Ken Duken (“Inglorious Basterd”), Lisa Loven Kongsli (“Force Majeure”) and August Wittgenstein (“The Crown”).
The 10-part series stars Welling as hardened former counterintelligence officer Captain Vincent Corbo, who is hired by billionaire futurist Peter Swann (Fraser) and his fiancée, medical visionary Dr. Graciela “Grace” Davila (Anaya), to investigate the explosion of an advanced medical satellite. What Corbo and his team discover, however, is that a combination of Swann’s business rivals, corrupt government officials and a shadowy crime syndicate could be behind the attack.
Commissioned by Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent Group) for streamer Viaplay, the cast includes Fraser (“Trust”), Tom Welling (“Smallville”), Elena Anaya (“Wonder Woman”), Saïd Taghmaoui (“John Wick 3”), Ken Duken (“Inglorious Basterd”), Lisa Loven Kongsli (“Force Majeure”) and August Wittgenstein (“The Crown”).
The 10-part series stars Welling as hardened former counterintelligence officer Captain Vincent Corbo, who is hired by billionaire futurist Peter Swann (Fraser) and his fiancée, medical visionary Dr. Graciela “Grace” Davila (Anaya), to investigate the explosion of an advanced medical satellite. What Corbo and his team discover, however, is that a combination of Swann’s business rivals, corrupt government officials and a shadowy crime syndicate could be behind the attack.
- 9/29/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
BritBox Acquires ‘Cold Courage’
BritBox UK has acquired Viaplay and Lionsgate’s John Simm-fronted political drama Cold Courage. The BBC and ITV-owned streamer will premiere the eight-part series on September 3, telling the story of how two Finnish women get drawn into a clandestine group dedicated to righting the wrongs of the powerful, influential and corrupt. Based on the award-winning and best-selling books by Pekka Hiltunen, Cold Courage was written by BAFTA-nominated David Joss Buckley (Hinterland) and Brendan Foley (The Riddle). The series is produced by Markku Flink and Pauli Pentti, and directed by Agenta Fagerstrom-Olsson and Kadir Ferati Balci. Fredrik Ljungberg, Jon Petersson, Kjartan Por Pordarson, Cormac Fox, Tom Hameeuw, Peter De Maegd and Marc B. Lorber are executive Pproducers.
Banijay Recruits Owain Walbyoff As Commercial Chief
Banijay has hired former Endemol Shine Group executive Owain Walbyoff to the newly-created role of chief commercial officer. Walbyoff will be...
BritBox UK has acquired Viaplay and Lionsgate’s John Simm-fronted political drama Cold Courage. The BBC and ITV-owned streamer will premiere the eight-part series on September 3, telling the story of how two Finnish women get drawn into a clandestine group dedicated to righting the wrongs of the powerful, influential and corrupt. Based on the award-winning and best-selling books by Pekka Hiltunen, Cold Courage was written by BAFTA-nominated David Joss Buckley (Hinterland) and Brendan Foley (The Riddle). The series is produced by Markku Flink and Pauli Pentti, and directed by Agenta Fagerstrom-Olsson and Kadir Ferati Balci. Fredrik Ljungberg, Jon Petersson, Kjartan Por Pordarson, Cormac Fox, Tom Hameeuw, Peter De Maegd and Marc B. Lorber are executive Pproducers.
Banijay Recruits Owain Walbyoff As Commercial Chief
Banijay has hired former Endemol Shine Group executive Owain Walbyoff to the newly-created role of chief commercial officer. Walbyoff will be...
- 8/25/2020
- by Jake Kanter and Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Los Angeles- and Montreal-based Starlings Television and Canada’s Mediabiz Intl. are teaming with Europe’s Nordic Ent. (Nent) Group, and Germany’s Night Train Media for futuristic, female-driven augmented reality drama “Veil.”
Craig Van Sickle is set as showrunner.
“Veil” takes place in the near future, when everyone has an implant in their brain that makes them see the world through a veil of augmented reality. When a computer virus makes them invisible to others, a woman is recruited to stop its spread. She discovers layers of falsehood, betrayal and conspiracy that need to be lifted to find the truth.
The project originated with Mediabiz Intl. and was created by Shawn Whitney (“A Brand New You”). Karine Martin, CEO of both Mediabiz Intl. and Starlings Ent., and executive producer Chris Philip, president of Starlings Television, packaged the series for the U.S. and international markets. Martin, Philip, Whitney, Van Sickle,...
Craig Van Sickle is set as showrunner.
“Veil” takes place in the near future, when everyone has an implant in their brain that makes them see the world through a veil of augmented reality. When a computer virus makes them invisible to others, a woman is recruited to stop its spread. She discovers layers of falsehood, betrayal and conspiracy that need to be lifted to find the truth.
The project originated with Mediabiz Intl. and was created by Shawn Whitney (“A Brand New You”). Karine Martin, CEO of both Mediabiz Intl. and Starlings Ent., and executive producer Chris Philip, president of Starlings Television, packaged the series for the U.S. and international markets. Martin, Philip, Whitney, Van Sickle,...
- 8/24/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Moonbug, the London-based kids entertainment company, has signed a content deal with Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent Group), the parent company of leading Scandinavian service Viaplay, to produce the original series “Mia’s Magic Playground.”
An animated adventure series, “Mia’s Magic Playground” revolves around Mia, the popular character of the British YouTube channel “Little Baby Bum” (pictured), and her two best friends, Oskar and Tilde, as they go into their imaginary land to find creative solutions and learn life lessons that can be applied in the real world.
“Mia’s Magic Playground,” aimed at young audiences aged four to six years old, is a spinoff of “Little Baby Bum,” which has an existing global fanbase of over 47 million subscribers and has received over 30 billion views on YouTube alone, according to Moonbug and Nent. The show will be developed by the creative content team behind “Little Baby Bum” with support from a Nordic animation studio.
An animated adventure series, “Mia’s Magic Playground” revolves around Mia, the popular character of the British YouTube channel “Little Baby Bum” (pictured), and her two best friends, Oskar and Tilde, as they go into their imaginary land to find creative solutions and learn life lessons that can be applied in the real world.
“Mia’s Magic Playground,” aimed at young audiences aged four to six years old, is a spinoff of “Little Baby Bum,” which has an existing global fanbase of over 47 million subscribers and has received over 30 billion views on YouTube alone, according to Moonbug and Nent. The show will be developed by the creative content team behind “Little Baby Bum” with support from a Nordic animation studio.
- 10/14/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy and Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Brendan Fraser is to star in The Professionals, a loose remake of the Christian Slater-fronted action movie Soldiers of Fortune for Scandinavian Svod service Viaplay.
The Mummy and Trust star is to front The Professionals, based on the Jeff Most-produced film, alongside Smallville’s Tom Welling, Wonder Woman’s Elena Anaya, John Wick 3’s Saïd Taghmaoui, Inglourious Basterds’ Ken Duken, Force Majeure’s Lisa Loven Kongsli and Das Boot’s August Wittgenstein.
The ten-part English-language series, which has just begun filming in South Africa and Ireland, was commissioned by Viaplay with German broadcaster Rtl II pre-buying the free-tv rights.
The Professionals is set against a backdrop of international espionage and corporate sabotage in the 21st century’s privately-funded space race and follow Welling as a hardened former counterintelligence officer Captain Vincent Corbo. After their advanced medical satellite explodes on deployment, billionaire futurist Peter Swann, played by Fraser,...
The Mummy and Trust star is to front The Professionals, based on the Jeff Most-produced film, alongside Smallville’s Tom Welling, Wonder Woman’s Elena Anaya, John Wick 3’s Saïd Taghmaoui, Inglourious Basterds’ Ken Duken, Force Majeure’s Lisa Loven Kongsli and Das Boot’s August Wittgenstein.
The ten-part English-language series, which has just begun filming in South Africa and Ireland, was commissioned by Viaplay with German broadcaster Rtl II pre-buying the free-tv rights.
The Professionals is set against a backdrop of international espionage and corporate sabotage in the 21st century’s privately-funded space race and follow Welling as a hardened former counterintelligence officer Captain Vincent Corbo. After their advanced medical satellite explodes on deployment, billionaire futurist Peter Swann, played by Fraser,...
- 5/31/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Mtg’s streaming service Viaplay has ordered a second season of its original series “The Great Escape,” a Swedish format which was named Children’s Program of the Year at last year’s Kristallen Awards.
“‘The Great Escape’ follows a Christmas calendar format, with a new episode released every day from Dec.1 to Christmas Eve, and is produced in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish versions. Beppe Singer, Ole André Sivertsen and Niels Christian Meyer headline a local cast in each respective country.
The series is being produced by Nexiko, a Stockholm-based production company, for Viaplay.
Jakob Mejlhede, Mtg’s exec VP and head of programming and content development,” said “The Great Escape” has sparked a “huge demand from kids and parents for a second season.”
“Thousands of budding young scientists across the Nordic region can’t be wrong – mixing creative experiments with a dramatic storyline is a winning formula,” said Mejlhede,...
“‘The Great Escape’ follows a Christmas calendar format, with a new episode released every day from Dec.1 to Christmas Eve, and is produced in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish versions. Beppe Singer, Ole André Sivertsen and Niels Christian Meyer headline a local cast in each respective country.
The series is being produced by Nexiko, a Stockholm-based production company, for Viaplay.
Jakob Mejlhede, Mtg’s exec VP and head of programming and content development,” said “The Great Escape” has sparked a “huge demand from kids and parents for a second season.”
“Thousands of budding young scientists across the Nordic region can’t be wrong – mixing creative experiments with a dramatic storyline is a winning formula,” said Mejlhede,...
- 4/5/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
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