MTV to produce US version of Skins

US cable network MTV is to make a local version of hit British teen drama Skins after striking a format deal with All3Media International.

The US broadcaster landed the rights to the series, which follows a group of badly behaved teenagers finding love, experimenting with drugs and dealing with a wide variety of teenage issues.

The US version will be produced by All3Media-owned producer Company Pictures, which produces the UK series, and Stormdog, which is run by Bryan Elsey, who created the show with his teenage son Jamie Brittain.

The deal was brokered by Greg Lipstone, head of international TV and media at Hollywood talent agency ICM and Liz Gately, SVP, series development, MTV, who has personally been pursuing the project for two years.

“We intend to preserve the authenticity of the British version and are excited to collaborate with the original team to develop stories that will speak to American youth,” she said.

The show, which has been a huge success on Channel 4’s digital channel E4, has been sold around the world and local versions have also been optioned in Spain and Romania, where Cuarzo TV and Mediapro Distribution have inked deals.