Thursday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Left Bank, Tiger Aspect alums join Orchid Pictures

Suzanne Mackie’s Orchid Pictures has bolstered its senior leadership team with the addition of Left Bank Pictures veteran Michael Casey and former Tiger Aspect exec Gabriel Silver.

Casey assumed the role of managing director at Orchid earlier this year and leads the day-to-day management of the indie alongside chief executive Mackie. He most recently served as a board member at Left Bank before stepping away in June 2024 after 16 years with Sony-owned indie.

During his time there he produced more than 100 hours of programming for BBC, ITV, Sky, HBO and Netflix, serving as a producer through all six series of landmark royal drama The Crown. His appointment reunites him with Mackie, who exited Left Bank in 2020 to launch Orchid. Read more

Sherlock & Daughter goes global

Sky Italia and Bell Media in Canada are among broadcasters to have acquired Brendan Foley’s hit drama, Sherlock & Daughter.

The series, which launched in the US on The CW before moving to HBO Max, has been sold by Federation Entertainment to RTS in Switzerland, Nova in Greece, Disney in the Balkans, Tivibu in Turkey, and TV3 Group in the Baltics.

Previously announced pre-sales included Warner Bros. Discovery in the UK and Ireland, YLE in Finland, NRK in Norway, SVT in Sweden, DR in Denmark, RUV in Iceland and Amedia in CIS.

Sherlock & Daughter is produced by Starlings Television Distribution through its affiliate Albion Television, in association with The CW & Warner Bros. Discovery.

Jaime Ondarza resurfaces at Boomerang TV

Former Fremantle exec Jaime Ondarza has been appointed chief exec at Spain’s Boomerang TV and will also become an advisor to Elisabeth d’Arvieu, who heads up the prodco’s parent group, Mediawan Pictures.

Ondarza reports to d’Arvieu and will work alongside Mónica Galer, president of Mediawan’s activities in Spain.

The exec was most recently chief exec for Southern Europe and Israel at Fremantle but left in 2024 after falling victim to an M&A scam run by cyber criminals.

Before that, he was executive vice president of Paramount for Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and senior vice president for WarnerMedia in Southern Europe and Africa.

Gavin Newsom doubles California’s TV & film credit scheme

California’s governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that more than doubles the US state’s film and TV tax credit scheme to $750m.

Newsom unveiled the plans almost a year ago and it passed state legislature last week, with Newsom completing the formalities yesterday.

The move is part of California’s strategy to breath life back into Hollywood following the pandemic and the US writers and actors strikes, which have been accompanied by productions moving to more tax friendly locations.

MipJunior unveils new format

Mipcom organisers RX France have unveiled a new format for its kid-skewing MipJunior event, which runs 11-12 October in Cannes.

The 2025 edition will be held in the Palais des Festivals, with the adjacent Gare Maritime acting as a new matchmaking venue.

Roundtable networking sessions will span both days and bring together players from all corners of the industry, including producers, platforms, distributors, creators, funding partners, and global players in toy and gaming sectors.

RX has also confirmed that manga show Ki & Hi - based on France’s all-time best-selling manga books from YouTuber Kevin Tranwill - receive its world premiere at MIPJUNIOR.

German, Kiwi drama Bust Up names leads

Bust Up, the upcoming buddy cop series from Germany’s ZDF and Sky New Zealand, has landed Morgana O’Reilly (The White Lotus) and Roimata Fox (A Remarkable Place To Die) as its lead.

The six-part crime series is produced by New Zealand production company Lippy Pictures (The Gulf), in co-production with German partners MadeFor Film (Stromberg), ZDF and ZDF Studios, which is also distributing.

Filming began at the end of May, with the series scheduled to air in 2026 on Sky Open, Neon and Sky Go. A broadcast date for ZDF is yet to be announced.

Japan’s ClaN launches Izigenia initiative 

Nippon TV-owned producer ClaN Entertainment is looking to expand its reach by launching an avatar-led series hosted by characters from around the world.

Izigenia will feature avatars who reflect Japanese culture, with a global talent search now being taken place to find people who can bring the characters to life.

ClaN is also expanding its creator support business to international markets, building on its multi-channel network C+ in Japan.

ESPN returns Fight Life

ESPN is preparing to return its original series The Fight Life for a second season.

The show chronicles a year in the world of boxers and will this season feature Keyshawn Davis, Mikaela Mayer, Jared Anderson, Jaime Munguia, Abdullah Mason and Emiliano Vargas.

The series follows each fighter as they prepare for career-defining fights while navigating the pressures and immeasurable rewards that come with The Fight Life.

The Fight Life is produced by ESPN in association with Words + Pictures and Top Rank.

U&Yesterday orders lifestyle show from Repair Shop star

UKTV has commissioned a Cornwall-based lifestyle series fronted by expert craftsman and The Repair shop star Dom Chinea.

Produced by Beagle Media, 5 x 60-minute Dom Chinea’s Cornish Workshop is being lined up for U&Yesterday and streamer U.

The series follows Chinea’s move to Cornwall to open a workshop and explores his automotive, engineering and build work, besides helping neighbours and his new community with their own projects.

Sam Lovegrove, who starred in Quest restoration and antique series Shed and Buried, will assist Chinea alongside local tradespeople. Besides his turn as an expert on The Repair Shop, Chinea also appeared on the BBC’s Make It at Market.

Beagle Media has previously made BBC2 pair Cornwall with Simon Reeve and Simon Reeve’s Return to Cornwall and Cornwall Air 999 for Discovery.