‘Bosch’ exec Henrik Bastin unveils Fabel, as Red Arrow’s Fabrik future unclear

Bosch

Bosch producer Henrik Bastin has unveiled his newly minted prodco Fabel Entertainment, which has been launched following his exit from Red Arrow Studios-backed Fabrik Entertainment, whose future is unclear.

Fabel will be led by CEO Bastin, who had overseen Fabrik during a run that saw it produce Bosch for Amazon Studios, Interrogation for CBS All Access, FX’s The Comedians and My Generation for ABC.

His new company will focus on sci-fi, comedy, romance, thriller and “genre-blended series” for the US and international markets.

Bastin told TBI that Fabel would also look for scripted formats – he previously adapted DR drama The Killing for AMC and Netflix – but added that he also wanted to work with creatives from around the world to get their IP into the US.

“The new formats are creators really. Interrogation for CBS All Access, for example, was created by a Swedish writer who’d never done anything in the US before but he had such quality and such impeccable English that we were able to work with him and help create this show. It’s the equivalent of bringing a format across.”

Henrik Bastin

Fabel backing & team

TBI understands the company is fully backed and owned by Bastin, who will be joined at Fabel by former Fabrik president Melissa Aouate. It is also understood that Abbey Morris and Paul Hilborn, who had been VP’s at Fabrik, are pursuing their own projects after leaving the Red Arrow-owned firm last year.

Fabel has also retained its development slate, which includes a series exploring the life and published works of neurologist Oliver Sacks, as well as projects based on Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters and Stephen King’s The Ten O’Clock People.

Bastin said: “After a successful decade-long partnership with the Red Arrow family, now felt like the perfect time to launch Fabel. As an independent production company with lofty ambitions and a brilliant, diverse team in place, we have a clear vision of what we plan to accomplish with this brand.”

Bastin told TBI that he was keen to explore comedy and sci-fi genres in particular, while adding that he would work on an “organic” basis when it came to distribution. He said that additional investment into the company from third parties could come “down the line” and would be “explored in some shape or form – but this is just day one.”

The Killing (US)

Fabrik future?

The launch of Fabel comes just over a decade since Bastin joined Fabrik, which was acquired by Red Arrow in 2011 and marked the ProSiebenSat.1-owned firm’s first strategic investment in the US.

Bastin and Fabrik went on to produce a raft of shows sold by Red Arrow’s sales division, including the reboot of The Killing for AMC and Netflix, 100 Code for WGN and HBO Nordic, Burn Notice for USA and American Odyssey for NBC.

Fabrik is currently in production of the final season of Bosch for Amazon but developments after that are unclear, with the German parent understood to be evaluating future opportunities.

Red Arrow has come off the back of a turbulent 12 months, in which it was nearly sold to All3Media last March before the sale was pulled, as revealed by TBI. Execs including former CEO James Baker and former group creative director Nina Etspueler have since left – the latter joining German studio Leonine – and sources told TBI last year that the company could face being broken up as ProSiebenSat.1 looks to use Red Arrow for it domestic entertainment needs rather than as an international arm.

On Fabrik’s future, a Red Arrow Studios spokesperson said: “After 10 successful years with Red Arrow Studios and Fabrik Entertainment, we wish Henrik Bastin all the best for the future.

“Fabrik and Henrik will continue to complete the seventh and final season of Bosch for Amazon Prime Video, and we look forward to working with him on a number of new developments in the future. Red Arrow Studios International will continue to distribute all seven seasons of Bosch worldwide.”