Mediaset to launch series with US exec producer

Italian broadcaster Mediaset is set to develop a series with a US showrunner after striking a deal with Insight, a joint venture between Latin American formats distributor Resonant TV and MediaXchange.

The joint venture – which will pair international broadcasters with US executive producers including Desperate Housewives’ Jeff Greenstein, 24 co-creator Bob Cochrane and The Good Wife’s David Zucker – is currently in development with a number of drama projects and expects to launch in the next three to four months.

Gonzalo Cilley, chief executive of Resonant TV and former Telefe International exec, says: “We’re partnering American showrunners with writers from other countries because there’s training that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. The role of the American writers is comparable to the coach of a team.”

He adds that he is talks with broadcasters from across Europe, Asia and Latin America. “Mediaset will choose one project to have an adviser,” he adds.

Resonant TV is also developing international versions of Beat The Devil, a sci fi series from Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld. “We came up with a deal where Sonnenfeld will be the showrunner of the American version and give creative input on the international versions. There will be three to four international deals before America and we’re close to signing with a pan regional pay TV network in Latin America,” adds Cilley.

Resonant TV is also developing a pan regional Latin American version of The Office and has struck a deal with Banijay International for the rights to reversion Danish drama 2900 Happiness.