Playground


Sky orders comedy-drama about Hollywood production in small town Ireland, from Chris O’Dowd

European pay-TV giant Sky has commissioned Small Town, Big Story, a new original comedy-drama for the UK & Ireland, created and directed by Moone Boy’s Chris O’Dowd. Produced by Playground and FilmNation Entertainment, tin association with Sky Studios, the six-part series is expected to launch on Sky and streaming service Now in the UK & Ireland […]

Playground rejig top team with Scott Huff & David Stern named joint MD’s

Colin Callender’s prodco Playground has reshuffled its management team with Scott Huff and David Stern named joint MD’s. Huff and Stern will handle day-to-day management of the UK and US operations, while Callender will continue to focus on corporate strategy, co-production partnerships and key talent relationships. He will also retain oversigh of select projects, including […]

Peacock & C4 join up for cyber drama from ‘Wolf Hall’ team

NBCUniversal-owned streamer Peacock has linked up with Channel 4 in the UK on a six-part thriller from Peter Kosminsky (Wolf Hall). The Undeclared War is being directed and co-written by Kosminsky, who will reunite with Wolf Hall producer Colin Callender and his production company Playground on the drama. Playground will co-produce with NBCUniversal International Studios, with […]

MIPCOM Drama round-up: NBCUI nabs ‘Wynonna Earp’; All3’s ‘All Creatures Great And Small’ travel; HBO Max adds ‘I Am Suzie’; and more

NBCUIN welcomes Wyonna Earp NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) has picked up all four seasons of genre-bending supernatural series Wynonna Earp. The show, sold by Cineflix Rights, will air on NBCUIN science fiction channels in Iberia, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Syfy) and in Poland and the Balkans (Scifi). The show is produced by IDW Entertainment, Cineflix […]

Starz expands period drama with ‘Dangerous Liaisons’

US cabler Starz has added another period drama to its slate, this time an adaptation of French novel Dangerous Liaisons. The show will be based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s novel and will be produced by UK producer Playground with Flame Ventures, in association with Starz parent Lionsgate. Call The Midwife‘s Harriet Warner is attached […]

Playground to adapt The Mermaid & Mrs Hancock

UK and US-based producer Playground has gained film and TV rights for Imogen Hermes Gowar’s best-selling novel The Mermaid & Mrs Hancock. The book, which was published earlier this year to rave reviews, is set in 1785 London and tells the story of Jonah Hancock, a prosperous merchant and widower, whose Captain returns having exchanged […]

BBC exec joins Playground gang

Long-serving BBC exec Dan Leon has joined London-based producer Playground as head of business affairs and director of operations. The exec spent eleven years with the UK pubcaster, working its rights and business affairs division alongside the drama commissioning and central commercial units, but will now manage Playground’s strategic growth and day-to-day operations. At the […]

Callender’s Playground ups two

Colin Callender’s drama prodco Playground has upped Scott Huff (left) and Elsye Dolbec (below right), and said it wants to expand its slate of US scripted projects. Huff becomes senior VP, development and production, overseeing Playground’s drama slate, and Dolbec becomes director of development, working with Huff on TV and theatre projects. Huff exec produces […]