Wednesday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Star Search misses Netflix global Top 10

Netflix’s recently launched live talent show Star Search has failed to make a major impact on the streamer’s weekly Top 10 globally.

The show, from Jesse Collins Entertainment, has been closely watched as the streamer attempts to push into live programming, with Star Search going out live on 20 January.

While it did not make the streamer’s global Top 10 for the week (19-25 January), it did come in fifth on the US chart.

Netflix’s other major live event of the week, Plimsoll Productions’ Skyscraper Live, was the third most-watched show of the week globally, with 6.2 million views. Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials (8.7 million) and His & Hers (17.2 million) took the second and top spots respectively.

French drama Zorro heads to US, Canada

North American streamer MHz Choice has picked up exclusive rights to France 2’s drama adaptation of Zorro, starring Jean Dujardin (The Artist) in the titular role.

The eight-part series will debut on the Kino Lorber-owned service this summer, following the deal with France TV Distribution.

Zorro originally premiered on France 2 in December 2024 and rolled out on Paramount+ in select international markets, but the MHz Choice acquisition marks the first time the show will be available in the US and Canada.

The deal includes a ‘Making of’ special that details the process of reimagining Zorro in this new French iteration, which was shot in Spain and created by Benjamin Charbit (Savages). It was co-produced by Paramount+, France Télévisions, Marc Dujardin’s Le Collectif 64 and Julien Seul’s Bien Sûr Productions.

BBC’s Listeners heads to Starz

Starz in the US has acquired exclusive domestic rights to BBC drama The Listeners.

The five-part thriller starred Rebecca Hall and was directed by Janicza Bravo, with Element Pictures producing.

It is based on the novel by Jordan Tannahill and debuted on the BBC last year, with Fremantle selling globally.

The show follows a popular English teacher who begins to hear a low humming sound that is audible only to her. This seemingly innocuous noise gradually upsets the balance of her life, distancing her from her family but bringing her closer to others who claim also to be able to hear the noise.

TV Denmark orders Miso drama

Danish broadcaster TV2 has greenlit a six-part crime thriller from Fremantle’s Miso Film starring Josephine Park (Baby Fever).

Side Effects (aka Fristelsen) explores what happens when a dockland security guard is murdered and a large shipment of pills containing a lethal opioid goes missing.

It is written by Lasse Kyed Rasmussen (Those Who Kill) and has Jonas Alexander Arnby (The Helicopter Heist) attached to direct. Shooting will start in spring with Fremantle handling international sales.

Shrinking lands S4 renewal

Apple TV has extended comedy drama Shrinking for a fourth run ahead of its season three premiere today.

Shrinking stars Harrison Ford and Segel, the latter of whom created the show with Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein.

The series follows a grieving therapist (Segel) who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Warner Bros. TV (where Lawrence and Goldstein are under overall deals) produces, along with Lawrence’s Doozer Productions.

BBC unveils Once Upon A Time In America

The BBC has unveiled more details about the latest iteration of its Once Upon A Time… series, while Minnow has landed a feature doc for the broadcaster about the Blitz.

The 5 x 60-minute Once Upon A Time In America is produced once again by Passion Pictures company Keo Films and directed by James Bluemel for BBC2. It will examine the country from the cultural revolutions of the 1960s to the present day.

Bluemuel has previously made Once Upon A Time series covering Iraq, Northern Ireland and Space, with a further series tackling in the Middle East in the works. It is understood that Once Upon a Time in America will tx next year, ahead of the Middle East series.

Minnow Films, meanwhile, will examine the British government’s evacuation programme during World War 2 in 90-minute single Children of the Blitz. Read more