Banijay details distribution lineup ahead of London Screenings

Wolf Hall (Source: Banijay/Ed Miller)

European production and distribution giant Banijay has unveiled its 2024 slate across scripted, factual and formats, ahead of London Screenings next week.

Highlights from its scripted slate include Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light, from Playground and Company Pictures, directed by Peter Kosminsky, and adapted for television by Peter Straughan. The series follows Thomas Cromwell as he navigates the moral complexities of the Tudor court following the execution of Anne Boleyn.

Another period drama in the catalogue from Playground, in association with Screen Ireland, Red Berry Productions and Newgrange Pictures, is new returnable six-part series The Hardacres, based on CL Skelton’s novel series, The Hardacre Saga.

Meanwhile, from Kudos and Nebulastar, and co-produced with Mercury Studios, in association with Kudos North, Stigma Films, and Nick Angel for the BBC, This Town tells the story of an extended family and four young people who are drawn into the world of the ska movement and two-tone music.

BlackLight Television (a Banijay UK company), in collaboration with Banijay Rights and Creative Wales for S4C, have produced Welsh drama The One That Got Away (aka Cleddau), which combines a murder mystery with a love story.

From Australia comes Invisible Boys from Feisty Dame Productions, Screenwest and Lotterywest, WA Regional Film Fund, Screen Australia, and Banijay Rights for Stan Originals. The drama explores the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal town of Geraldton.

Deal Or No Deal Island (Source: Banijay)

Factual & formats offering

In factual, the feature-length documentary from Scenery and Pretty Matches, Front Row, is executive produced by actor and producer Sarah Jessica Parker, and directed by Miriam Guttmann. It highlights the resilience of Ukrainian ballet dancers during wartime, where an unlikely friendship forms between a dancer and a front-line soldier.

From Workerbee comes two documentaries, Anatomy Of A Murder, a feature length true-crime story centring around the daughter of an Iranian family, who has spent over thirty years and millions of her fortune to try and find her mother’s killer; and Four Kings for Prime Video, exploring the history of British boxing through four men coming from the same London neighbourhood who heralded a golden era and changed the way Britain viewed its black athletes.

Meanwhile, on the reality competition front, Banijay is offering The Summit, a 9Network and Endemol Shine Australia original series, produced by Endemol Shine Australia.

And from Endemol Shine North America, Deal Or No Deal Island reimagines the iconic game show as an epic adventure. This new spin-off series for NBC is set on the Banker’s private island as he searches for his ultimate opponent in a high stakes competition with over $200,000,000 up for grabs.

From Metronome is Shaolin Heroes for TV2 Denmark, where celebrities embark on a transformational journey alongside world-class Shaolin masters.

Joining Banijay’s factual offering is Banged Up, created by Shine TV for Channel 4, while from EndemolShine Nederland, Upside Down sees two celebrity teams undertake topsy turvy challenges and Q&A games.

Reality series The Fortune Hotel from Tuesday’s Child for ITV1 and ITVX, meanwhile, sees contestants at a luxury Caribbean resort paired up to compete to win a briefcase, one holding the ultimate cash prize and another an Early Checkout Card.

Cathy Payne, CEO at Banijay Rights, said: “This year’s line-up for Banijay @ BAFTA truly illuminates the breadth of our catalogue and ability to showcase outstanding content across multiple genres. From high-end dramas to acclaimed factual series, we look forward to coming together later this month to celebrate great talent, captivating storytelling and stand-out IP.”