Fox fuels Belgium’s IP surge across genres

Fox Entertainment is fuelling the surging expansion of Belgian IP with a US reboot of 2003 movie De Zaak Alzheimer (La Memoire Du Tueur) and a remake of Primitives format 99 To Beat.

Memory of a Killer, whose greenlight was confirmed as Fox unveiled its 2025/2026 slate (see below), follows a hitman who struggles to keep his identity secret after developing early onset Alzheimer’s.

A US movie reboot, titled Memory, was produced in 2022 starring Liam Neeson, with the original produced by Warner Bros International TV Production-owned label Eyeworks.

The series revamp is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment and has been ordered by Michael Thorn, president of Fox Television Network.

Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malone are attached to write and executive produce, alongside Cathy Schulman of Welle Entertainment.

Arthur Sarkissian and Martin Campbell are also executive producers, along with Peter Bouckaert of Eyeworks.

“Memory of a Killer is a propulsive series with a noisy, unrelenting character hook that immediately grabbed our attention,” said Thorn.

“In the spirit of 24 and House, we’re introducing a daring new signature Fox lead, a complicated antihero facing unimaginable danger.”

Fox is not alone in looking to international shores for scripted formats. The US broadcaster has already ordered Best Medicine, a remake of UK drama Doc Martin, and Doc, based on Rai1’s Italian drama Doc – Nelle Tue Mani, while ABC has enjoyed success with its remake of hit French/Belgian drama HPI.

Banijay UK labels land order in Fox’s fall plans

Memory of a Killer’s greenlight emerged as Fox unveiled its fall schedule at its upfronts event in New York today, with another Belgian IP also acquired, this time on the unscripted side.

99 To Beat is from Belgium’s Primitives and will be remade for Fox by Banijay-owned Initial and Znak TV.

A 10-episode order has been made, with the deal marking the 12th remake for the Belgian format following other deals including in the UK with ITV.

Production on the US version of 99 To Beat is scheduled to start in the next month, hosted by comedian and actor Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Community) and actress and writer Erin Andrews (Bless the Harts, That’s My Boy).

Natalka Znak, Claire O’Donohoe, Katy Manley and Lee Smithurst are executive producing for Znak TV and Initial, with the deal brokered by Simone de Pruyssenaere de la Woestyne, Primitives’ Amsterdam-based director of sales and acquisitions. The format was created by Belgian broadcaster VRT and production company De Chinezen.

The remakes of the two Belgian IPs join a handful of new series on the Fox slate for 2025/2026, including one-hour comedy Best Medicine, previously announced event series The Faithful and unscripted competition Next Level Baker.

Returning scripted series include Doc (S2) and Murder in a Small Town (S2), alongside comedies Animal Control (S4) and Going Dutch (S2).

Animated series coming back include Bob’s Burgers (S16), Family Guy (S24), Grimsburg (S3), Krapopolis (S3), Universal Basic Guys (S2) and The Simpsons (S37).

Unscripted returners are: Beat Shazam (S8), Don’t Forget The Lyrics! (S4), Extracted (S2), The Floor (S4), Hell’s Kitchen (S24), Kitchen Nightmares (S3), LEGO Masters (S6), The Masked Singer (S14), Name That Tune (S5) Next Level Chef (S5) and Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test (S4). Additional series renewals are yet to be announced.

Fox Entertainment chief exec Rob Wade described the slate as “filled with irreverence, fun and much-needed laughter.”