Fremantle names CEO’s at The Apartment & Wildside, unveils Gianani & Mieli deal

My Brilliant Friend (Source: Fremantle)

Fremantle has named new CEO’s at Italian prodcos Wildside and The Apartment following the exits of Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli, who have struck a coproduction pact with their former employers.

Annamaria Morelli becomes chief of The Apartment and Sonia Rovai is taking the top job at Wildside, with both companies retaining editorial autonomy. Fremantle will retain 100% ownership of both Wildside and The Apartment.

Wildside has been behind shows including The Good Mothers, while The Apartment’s slate includes My Brilliant Friend, and Fremantle said both companies would continue to with their existing rosters of talent.

News of Mieli and Gianani’s exit emerged last month, with the two veterans leaving Fremantle to launch a new company.

At that time, the RTL Group-owned production group told TBI that it was “finalising a way to continue to work together in a different structure” and details of that relationship have now been confirmed.

Gianani and Mieli have signed a co-production agreement with Fremantle which provides a collaboration on several projects, with show in production and post including the new film by Paolo Sorrentino, Limonov – The Ballad by Kirill Serebrennikov, Queer by Luca Guadagnino starring Daniel Craig, and the TV series M.

Details about Mieli and Gianani’s new company are set be announced shortly.

Andrea Scrosati, group COO and CEO of Continental Europe at Fremantle, said: “I am really happy to continue collaborating with Lorenzo and Mario with this new formula, which guarantees to continue to work together on projects that were born in The Apartment and Wildside under their leadership and vision.

“After having created dozens of extraordinary projects together over the years, this agreement is the basis for continuing to create many more in the future.”

Gianani and Mieli added: “Working with Fremantle for the last 14 years has been a hugely important, exciting and great adventure.

“We put all our energy and passion to contribute to making Fremantle a successful hub of innovative and provocative creativity, and we are grateful for the support, freedom and trust Fremantle has given us.

“This new entrepreneurial adventure fills our desire for new challenges and goals, and we are happy and proud to announce this deal that will allow us to continue producing with Fremantle on extraordinary movies and series as we have done over the years.”

Mieli and Gianani worked together at Wildside prior to its acquisition by Fremantle in 2015. It is behind shows including HBO’s We Are Who We Are and Disney+ series The Good Mothers. Gianani set up The Apartment in 2020, with its slate including Priscilla and The New Pope.

Scrosati added: “Annamaria Morelli and Sonia Rovai have vision, experience and passion. I am so happy to welcome them to The Apartment and Wildside, two labels that have attracted some of the best talent, both Italian and international.”