Tuesday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

History Hunters extends Danish run

Finnish production group ICS Nordic has appointmed live comedy event spcialist Ilona Puttonen to the newly created position of talent and operations executive.

Puttonen has worked in the industry for almost two decades and her appointment comes amid a strategic expansion into the events industry by ICS Nordic, which was founded by Ilkka Hynninen and Ilkka Rahkonen.

As part of the focus, ICS Nordic has also signed a partnership with Finland-based comedian Ismo Leikola, deepening the collaboration between the two parties after they worked together on feature film Ismo – Breaking Bad English, which aired on HBO in the Nordics and Baltics, and sold internationally to multiple territories, including Australia.

The new events and comedy division follows last month’s news of four key permanent hires at ICS Nordic in development, production, finance and legal and business affairs supporting broader domestic and international expansion.

Alpha Males to end on Netflix

Netflix has ordered a sixth and final season of Spanish comedy Alpha Males.

The show, which has been created by the Caballero brothers, is in production and follows four men who set out to be the perfect example of modern masculinity.

The sixth season will consist of ten episodes and has been created by Alberto Caballero and Laura Caballero, who also serves as director. Contubernio Films produces.

Four-year strategy unveiled for Northern Ireland Screen 

Northern Ireland Screen has unveiled a four-year strategy including proposals to support Studio Ulster win business and the local industry take advantage of AI.

The 56-page plan, titled The Full Picture, follows the completion of the previous four-year strategy, which set out a target for productions backed by the national screen agency to generate £442m.

The agency has revealed this target has been beaten by £35m, reaching £477m since 2022, having supported shows including Derry Girls (Channel 4), Blue Lights (BBC1), and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO/Sky Atlantic).

Key elements of the refreshed strategy surround the growth of new Northern Irish virtual production studio Studio Ulster, which opened in June last year to become the largest of its kind in the UK and Ireland. Read more