Upgrade Productions


Constantin-backed Upgrade Productions expands senior team with Bron & Studiocanal alums

US-based Upgrade Productions has appointed Akshay Mehta as EVP of content strategy and business development and Vanessa Saal as EVP of production and distribution. Mehta will be responsible for Upgrade’s overall content strategy and seeking out new partnership opportunities. He is taking the lead on managing these relationships and structuring the financing for the slate […]

Upgrade Productions adds Italian & Indian series to development slate

US-based Upgrade Productions has unveiled three new projects in development, including Italian and Indian series and a Mexican feature. All three projects are being developed to go into production in 2023. Sunny Side Up is an Indian original comedy series produced by Mumbai-based production company Writeous Studios, with Upgrade exec producing. The Hindi-language show is […]

Constantin-backed Upgrade Productions snags Mediawan & Leonine Studios exec as series head

US-based Upgrade Productions has hired Mediawan and Leonine Studios exec Caroline Kusser as EVP and head of series. In her new role, Kusser will oversee the development, distribution and production of the firm’s series, working alongside Upgrade co-presidents Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier. Kusser joined Mediawan and Leonine Studios in January as EVP of international […]

Constantin Film-backed Upgrade partners with Shochiku for Japanese adaptation

Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier’s Upgrade Productions has partnered with Japanese outfit Shochiku to produce an adaptation of Minae Mizumura’s A True Novel. The eight-part Japanese-language series is being written by Riko Sakaguchi (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya) and is based on the 2003 novel, which itself was inspired by Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. The story […]

Disney+ & Sierra/Affinity execs launch LA-based Upgrade Productions

Former Disney+ exec Matt Brodlie and Sierra/Affinity’s Jonathan Kier have launched Upgrade Productions, a new LA-based prodco focused on the development and production of local language content for a global audience. The new firm has received backing from Germany’s Constantin Film and forged a strategic partnership with BRON. It is already working with creators and […]