News round-up: Amazon extends ‘Hanna’; Movistar Play originals hit market; Blue Ant reps ‘Dolce Vita’ franchise; and more…

Hanna

‘Hanna’ takes third trip to Amazon

Amazon has commissioned a third season of its original action drama series Hanna for its Prime Video streaming platform.

Based on the 2011 film of the same name, the series stars Esme Creed-Miles as the titular teenager who is being hunted by a shady government agency while trying to unearth the truth about her identity.

This third season comes soon after the airing of Hanna’s second run on Prime Video.

The series is produced by NBCUniversal International Studios and written and executive produced by David Farr.

“When we set out on this journey, I had in my mind a drama that would excavate Hanna’s past, challenge her in entirely new ways and answer the question: can she ever belong?,” he said. “I am truly grateful to Amazon and NBCUniversal that we are able to continue that vision. It’s going to be an exciting third act.”

Capital Roar

Movistar Play originals taken to market by Onza

Spain-based Onza Distribution has picked up four series from Telefónica-owned Movistar Play for global sale, excluding Latin America.

The four series are the first to be produced by Movistar – Capital Roar (6 x 25-minutes), Adulting (8 x 24-minutes), My Lucky Day (4 x 45-minute) and Survival Guide (8 x 25-minutes).

Movistar Play is the Lat Am branch of Madrid-headquartered Movistar, which launched in 2017.

David Rocco

Blue Ant now reps ‘Dolce Vita’

Blue Ant International has signed a multi-year deal to distribute more than 140 hours of Rockhead Entertainment’s Dolce Vita franchise.

Fronted by Rockhead co-founder, David Rocco, the lifestyle and cooking series, sees him travel the world to sample and cook authentic regional dishes.

All 11 seasons of the franchise are now represented by Blue Ant, including David Rocco’s Dolce Italia (13 x 30-minutes); David Rocco’s Dolce Southeast Asia (13 x 30-minutes); David Rocco’s Dolce Vita, seasons 1 to 4 (39 x 30-minutes for seasons 1-3 and 13 x 30-minutes & 1 x 60-minute for season 4); David Rocco’s Dolce Tuscany (13 x 30-minutes); David Rocco’s Dolce Napoli (13 x 30-minutes); David Rocco’s Dolce India season 1 and 2 (26 x 30-minutes) and David Rocco’s Dolce Africa (13 x 30-minutes).

“Rocco’s Dolce Vita series serves as a decadent, much-needed escape for viewers, who get to immerse themselves in the beauty, culture and, most of all, the regional cuisine of countries around the world,” says Ludo Dufour, SVP of international co-productions and sales at Blue Ant International.

Michael McIntyre

BBC gets behind ‘The Wheel’

UK pubcaster the BBC has commissioned a new game show from British comedian Michael McIntyre’s prodco, Hungry McBear Media.

The Wheel will be a new 10 x 60-minute “feel good” format hosted by McIntyre on Saturday nights on BBC One, though broadcast dates are yet to be announced.

The show was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, director of BBC Content, and Kate Phillips, controller of entertainment commissioning. Executive producers for Hungry McBear Media are Dan Baldwin and Tom Blakeson and the commissioning editor for the BBC is Kalpna Patel-Knight.