Drama deals: eOne boards first French drama, Eccho swoops for Sweden’s ‘Love Me’

La Garçonne

Entertainment One picks up first French-language drama

Entertainment One (eOne) has picked up international distribution rights to France 2 crime drama La Garçonne from Call My Agent! producers Mother Production and Gedesel.

The deal marks eOne’s first French-language acquisition, and was brokered by Noel Hedges, EVP of acquisitions and international distribution for the studio.

Set in Paris during the Roaring Twenties, La Garçonne follows Louise Kerlac, who witnesses the murder of a relative committed by government agents. A career forbidden to women at the time, Louise is convinced that joining the police will be her best hiding place and also provide the means to investigate the murder.

Based on an original idea by Dominique Lancelot and Harold Valentin, La Garçonne is created and co-produced by Lancelot, directed by Paolo Barzman and produced by Aurélien Larger and Harold Valentin (Call My Agent!) on behalf of Mother Production.

Hedges said: “It was about four years ago when I first heard about the concept for this project from the terrific team at Mother, and I was immediately fascinated by the superb mix of dynamic period detail and gripping crime story, combined with very contemporary themes about identity.

“Mother always brings a fresh, exciting vibrancy to their productions and together with a unique performance from Laura, we are hugely excited to bring the series to international audiences.”

Mother said: “With La Garçonne, we wanted to tackle contemporary issues, with a universal and playful approach. We fell in love with our main protagonist Louise, a woman who dressed up as her twin brother in order to save her life as well as assume a role that society would not permit. Accepting a man’s job and refusing to go back to menial tasks, she frees her brother of the duties of a cop which was forced upon him by their father. We believe that a woman’s emancipation is a fight for everyone’s freedom.”

Eccho Rights snaps up Swedish drama ‘Love Me’

CJ ENM-owned distributor Eccho Rights has struck a deal with Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) Sweden for Swedish comedy Love Me.

The six-part series, which premiered on Viaplay in October, was penned by Welcome To Sweden actress Josephine Bornebusch and follows three different generations of a family. It has been renewed by Viaplay for a second season, which is currently shooting.

This marks the second collaboration between WBITVP Sweden and Eccho Rights, who are also distributing the former’s drama Maria Wern starring Eva Röse.

Nicola Söderlund, managing partner at Eccho Rights, said: “We see a lot of interest in Nordic drama that moves away from the established Noir fare and focuses on authentic stories featuring relatable characters that everybody can identify with.

“Josephine Bornebusch is a unique and incredibly talented creator and presents us with a dramedy that explores the human condition in depth while never losing its humour. We are proud to bring this extraordinary production to audiences worldwide and to continue our fruitful partnership with Warner Bros.”

Jonah Hedman, head of drama at WBITVP Sweden, added: “This warm and humorous series offers true-to-life characters that lend themselves to a feeling that this story is taking place here and now. We see a great potential for it to travel very well.”

Bron joins Palomar for ‘That Dirty Black Bag’

Bron Studios has teamed up with Palomar-Mediawan Group to produce and co-finance post-apocalyptic drama That Dirty Black Bag.

That Dirty Black Bag is directed by Italian filmmaker Mauro Aragoni and writers Silvia Ebreul and Marcello Izzo. Fabio Paladini is attached as an additional writer.

Bron and Palomar are to co-produce, with Bron’s David Davoli, Aaron L. Gilbert and Steven Thibault joining Carlo Degli Esposti, Nicola Serra and Patrizia Massa from Palomar as exec producers.

The eight-part drama series will be produced in English and is envisioned as a three-season arc. Mediawan-Palomar are currently in negotiations with commissioners in Italy, and Mediawan will also take French rights.

Bron and Palomar, who control all other rights, are currently talking to other international buyers, including US players. The project will begin casting in January and cameras will roll in May.

Following on the heels of Måns Mårlind’s Shadowplay and John Morton’s UK adaptation of Call My Agent!, That Dirty Black Bag continues Bron’s international strategy of identifying TV properties in Europe that have clear global potential.

Bron’s backers at Creative Wealth Media are behind the series, with Creative Wealth Media’s Jason Cloth and Richard McConnell serving as co-executive producers. For Palomar, Marco Camilli and Davide Nardini will also serve as co-executive producers.