Leonine Studios acquires ‘A Perfect Crime’ prodco Gebrueder Beetz

L-R: Reinhardt & Christian Beetz

Germany’s Leonine Studios has acquired a 50% controlling stake in local factual production firm Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion.

Leonine has also secured the right to acquire the remaining 50% of the company, as part of the deal, as well as 100% of its Lüneburg-based production arm directly.

The prodco, which has locations in Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne, will remain an independent company and brand within the Leonine Production division, with Christian and Reinhardt Beetz remaining to lead the company as managing directors.

Fred Kogel, CEO of Leonine Studios, will join the management team of Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion after the transaction has been completed, while longtime senior producer and showrunner Georg Tschurtschenthaler will become chief creative officer.

Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion is behind documentaries including Open Heart, The Cleaners and the first German Netflix original, A Perfect Crime. Upcoming launches include Reeperbahn – Special Unit 65 and A Century Of Sex Education.

With the acquisiton, the Leonine Production segment now comprises eight production brands: Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion, Hyperbole, i&u TV, Madame Zheng Production, Odeon Fiction, SEO Entertainment, W&B Television and Wiedemann & Berg Film.

“The new setup opens up a wide range of opportunities for us to participate in the strong national and international market growth in the documentary sector, said Kogel.

“We will invest in our own high-end IPs with international potential and in the development of original content. Christian and Reinhardt Beetz are pioneers and known for their groundbreaking, high-quality productions, which are also internationally successful and have won numerous prestigious awards. The content strategy fits perfectly with Leonine’s premium content ambitions.”