Lionsgate eyes Euro copro partners, La Plante signs on for Villains

Lionsgate is looking for European coproduction partners for its one-hour pirate drama Villains Of All Nations. This comes after the producer and distributor struck a deal with author Lynda La Plante to develop the series.

Peter Iacono, managing director, international, Lionsgate told TBIvision that the project was one the company’s priorities. “This is a major production, probably one of Lionsgate’s biggest in a long time. We’re talking to international broadcasters early about this and we’re definitely open to European coproduction partners.”

This marks a significant step for Lionsgate, which has previously tended to fully fund television projects.

Last May TBI exclusively reported the development of the series, which is based on the Professor Marcus Rediker book about the “Golden Age of Piracy” between 1650 to 1730.

La Plante, who wrote the Prime Suspect series, joins executive producers Alessandro Camon (Thank You For Not Smoking) and Alexandra Milchan (Street Kings)