After joining forces last year to launch a banner together, independent powers Mediawan (“Call My Agent”) and Leonine Studios (“Dark”) have acquired a 51% stake in Drama Republic, the British production banner. award-winning behind “Doctor Foster” and “The Honorable Woman”.
The acquisition marks an important step in the development of the recently launched Mediawan & Leonine studios in the English-speaking territories and in the United Kingdom.
Drama Republic is led by industry veterans Greg Brenman, Roanna Benn and chief content officer Jude Liknaitzky, who will all remain in their respective roles. The company has created some of Britain’s most successful dramas, many of which have gone on to become global hits, such as “Doctor Foster”, which has sold in over 100 territories, and “The Honorable Woman”, winner of the BAFTA. The group has bonded with some of the UK’s top talent, including writer and director Hugo Blick (“The Honorable Woman”, “The English”), successful novelist and screenwriter David Nicholls (“Patrick Melrose” ) and the Olivier Award – winning playwright Mike Bartlett (“Doctor Foster”), among others.
With Drama Republic, Mediawan & Leonine Studios are now present in the main European content markets: UK, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and Spain.
Mediawan & Leonine Studios, led by Mediawan CEO Pierre-Antoine Capton and Leonine Studios CEO Fred Kogel as co-CEO, brings together two of Europe’s fastest growing media companies. Their combined portfolio includes 61 production banners in key markets.
Their ambition is to strengthen their status as a pan-European talent-driven major involved in the development, production, distribution and licensing of premium intellectual property.
“We are delighted to welcome Drama Republic’s very experienced and ambitious team to our family,” said Capton.
“Combining creative strengths and market relevance with Drama Republic opens up fantastic opportunities for our studio: we look forward to seizing synergies in co-production, distribution and licensing, allowing our local hits to travel around the world. Added Capton, who noted that the acquisition of Drama Republic will give the company “even more day-to-day firepower to nurture talent and create compelling content with international potential.”
Kogel said that “nurturing talent is part of the common DNA of Leonine, Mediawan and Drama Republic. Our partnership will open up endless new opportunities for talent, as well as for our customers and partners. “
The Executive noted: “Drama Republic Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Greg and Roanna and their team have proven their unique ability to produce premium content with global reach, in partnership with traditional broadcasters and streaming platforms. on high-end series. “
Brenman and Benn said they looked forward to “entering into a long-term partnership with Mediawan & Leonine Studios, one of Europe’s leading fiction producers.”
“As the creators of ‘Call My Agent’ and ‘Dark’, their ability to produce stellar content couldn’t be more evident. We are excited and honored to help lead their expansion into English content, ”said Executives, whose roster includes projects with writers such as Sara Collins, David Ireland and Nicole Taylor.
Leonine was born in 2019 from the merger of Tele München Group, Universum Film, i & u TV, Wiedemann & Berg Film and W&B Television. The company delivered the famous Netflix Original “Dark”, the award-winning series “Pagan Peak” and the German soundtrack hit “Nightlife”. On the distribution side, Leonine previously handled the German releases of “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and “Knives Out”, among others.
Mediawan, launched five years ago by Capton, Xavier Niel and Mathieu Pigasse, boasts a career in animation, series, films and documentaries. Mediawan is the parent company of Lagardere Studios, On Kids & Family, Storia, Mon Voisin Production, Making Prod, Ab Group, Palomar, Radar, Paiva, Scarlett Prods., Black Dynamite, Good Mood and French Kiss, among others.
