Starz snags Sky drama ‘Mary & George’ for North America as AMC bows out

Mary & George (Source: Starz)

Starz has snagged rights to Mary & George, the upcoming Sky Studios show that had previously been picked up by AMC Networks.

The drama is produced by the UK’s Hera Pictures and has been inspired by Benjamin Woolley’s nonfiction book The King’s Assassin, with Killing Eve‘s DC Moore writing.

AMC Networks had previously taken rights to the show in North America, Australia, New Zealand and India, but it will now debut in the US and Canada on Starz following the deal with Sky Studios sibling NBCUniversal Global Distribution.

The show is based on the true story of a treacherous mother and son who schemed, seduced and killed to conquer the Court of England and the bed of King James I.

Alison Hoffman, president of domestic networks at Starz, said: “We can’t wait for the world to discover the untold story of Mary Villiers, who mastered the art of sexual and political conquests in a male-dominated society.”

Earlier this year, AMC unveiled plans to cut its content spend by around 20%, following the cancellations of Moonhaven and Pantheon, as it attempted to make streaming pay.

The company revealed a rebound in streaming numbers in its Q3 results earlier this month, while blaming a lack of original programming among a number of reasons for its 18% decline in advertising revenue as its linear networks suffered.

Despite the cuts, AMC has also been in acquisitive mood, most notably acquiring former Disney+ show Nautilus in the US, after the Mouse House axed the show prior to its release in its own cost-cutting exercise.