Left Bank Pictures


Netflix to end ‘The Crown’ with Imelda Staunton confirmed as Queen

Netflix is to bring the curtain down on royal drama The Crown after a fifth and final season, which will star Imelda Staunton in the role of Queen Elizabeth II. The show, produced by Sony Pictures Television-owned Left Bank Pictures, launched its third run in November and is set to enter its fourth season later […]

BBC orders Windrush drama from Left Bank Pictures

The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures is working on a true-life drama about the Windrush immigration scandal in the UK for public broadcaster the BBC. Sitting In Limbo is being written by Stephen S. Thompson (pictured), author of 2000 novel Toy Soldiers, and is based on the story of his brother and his personal struggle […]

YouTube Red orders Sony’s Origin story drama

Subscription VOD service YouTube Red has ordered a sci-fi drama called Origin that has China International Television Corporation (CITVC) and Sony Pictures Television (CPT) attached. The ten-part drama comes from Sony-owned UK prodco Left Bank Pictures (The Crown) and Knighfall producer Midnight Radio, with CITVC and SPT’s international production arm producing in association. Origin is […]

ITV Studios, Sky execs join Lookout Point

High-ranking production execs at ITV Studios (ITVS) and satcaster Sky are joining UK drama house Lookout Point. ITVS creative director Francis Hopkinson (Wallander, DCI Banks) is joining as the senior management team as executive producer, while Louise Mutter is named head of production. Hopkinson will build and develop his own slate and produce new Andrew […]

Sovereign drama

Top drama producers tell Jesse Whittock about the small screen’s enduring fascination with royalty. The £100 million (US$125 million) budget Netflix’s drama The Crown (above) was reportedly handed isn’t quite the estimated £369 million it’s going to take to renovate Buckingham Palace’s 775 rooms, but is certainly one of the biggest purses to which a […]

US, UK writers join C4, Sony anthology drama

British broadcaster Channel 4 and US studio Sony Pictures Television have pooled together top writing talent from both sides of the pond to write the upcoming TV anthology series Electric Dreams: The World of Philip K. Dick. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas scribe Tony Grisoni, Harry Potter & The Cursed Child and Skins’ writer […]

ITV goes for wartime drama

UK commercial channel ITV has commissioned an 8x60mins period drama set in high London society during the Second World War. Set in 1940 in a glamorous five-star hotel, The Halcyon will look at how war impacted life in the British city, set to a soundtrack of music from the era. Wallander prodco Left Bank Pictures […]

The Crown producer targets China drama

UK drama production company Left Bank Pictures is to begin targeting the Chinese market after signing a co-development deal with the China International Television Corporation. This pact will see Sony Pictures Television-owned Left Bank, which is producing Netflix royal drama The Crown, and CITVC working up English-language scripted programming for the Chinese and international markets. […]

Regal ambitions

Royalty is in vogue. Ahead of the launch of Lionsgate’s series The Royals, TBI speaks with the studio’s TV boss Kevin Beggs, and looks at the other regal offerings in the market. E! is best known for its glossy entertainment programming and awards show coverage, but like many US cable channels last year took the […]