Newen expands in UK with Gub Neal drama indie

Gub Neal

France’s Newen has partnered with prominent UK drama producer Gub Neal and production house DoveTale Media to launch Ringside Studios.

Ringside Studios is majority owned by Newen, with both Neal and DoveTale Media owning stakes in the business.

Neal’s producer credits include The Fall and The Last Enemy. Neal was previously controller of drama at Granada TV, as well as head of drama at Channel 4, with credits including Queer as Folk, Shackleton and Prime Suspect.

DoveTale Media was launched by Revolution Films founder Andrew Eaton, and The Fall executive producer Justin Thomson, as well as Tracey Scoffield and David Tanner from Rainmark Films in 2018.

Neal previously collaborated with DoveTale through his production company Artists Studio on Insoupconnable, the French adaptation of The Fall which aired on TF1.

Newen said that Ringside Studios will develop high-quality English and international dramas, which may be distributed by Newen.

Neal will lead the company as creative director.

Ringside Studios already has several projects under advanced development within Newen, including Oksa Pollock, a series of six fantasy children’s novels written by French authors Anne Plichota and Cendrine Wolf, co-produced with Jean-Benoit Gillig (Leonis).

The new scripted launch follows TFI-owned Newen’s acquisition of Canadian production and distribution company Reel One.

Newen owns French production companies such as Capa Drama (Versailles) and Telfrance, Nimbus in Denmark, Tuvalu and Pupkin in the Netherlands, De Mensen in Belgium, as well as the animation company BlueSpirit and Reel One in Canada.

Romain Bessi, managing director of Newen, said: “The highly-regarded British fiction market is an important part of our growth strategy and it is essential that we develop a presence there. With Gub Neal, we have the opportunity to work with a talented producer who already has strong creative ties with Newen, while offering other English-speaking talents the opportunity to join our ambitious creative ecosystem.”

Neal added: “Never has there been a more exciting or timely opportunity to join forces with leading European media hub Newen; and work with Newen’s teams in building a new drama powerhouse in London.”