We have secured a new first-look and development deal with Me+You Productions, the award-winning independent film and television production company founded by BAFTA and EMMY-winning filmmakers Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar.
The three-year deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for all of Me+You’s television projects, with the UK producer working closely with both our global drama division and distribution team. The agreement is our latest creative partnership and underlines our continued commitment to premium drama.
The partnership with Me+You was introduced to Fremantle by Lorenzo De Maio, of De Maio Entertainment, with the deal being brokered by Jill Kellie on behalf of Fremantle, and Richard Lever for Lee+Thompson acting on behalf of Me+You. Our SVP of Scripted Content Rebecca Dundon, and Global Drama’s Head of Creative Hilary Martin, will be overseeing the venture and leading on creative and commercial direction for Fremantle. De Maio Entertainment will be a strategic advisor for Me+You and Fremantle, to optimise strategy and maximise each project’s impact and success.
The deal comes off the back our recent collaboration with Me+You’s on original TV drama, Alice & Jack. The series, which stars award-winning actors Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson, was produced with Fremantle in association with Groundswell Productions, De Maio Entertainment, MASTERPIECE and Channel 4, with Fremantle also handling global sales.
Alice & Jack is the latest project from Me+You Productions who develop and produce high-end cinematic, authored drama and comedy with a focus on distinctive and bold stories for UK and international audiences, with the finest talent in front and behind the camera. Diversity and inclusion is hardwired into the DNA of the company, from the people they work with to the stories they tell.
Recent successes include feature film Close to You from writer and director Dominic Savage and starring Elliot Page, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, and I Am Ruth, starring Kate Winslet written and directed by Dominic Savage. The film has won multiple awards including two BAFTAs and two Royal Television Society Awards. It is part of their award-winning anthology drama series I AM for Channel 4 starring Samantha Morton, Letitia Wright and Suranne Jones. The series has recently been acquired by HBO in the US.
Me+You has also produced two series of the acclaimed 6-part scripted comedy drama series Sick of It written by Karl Pilkington and Richard Yee for Sky One, two series of International Emmy-winning comedy Hoff The Record starring Brett Goldstein and Asim Chaudhry, and the award-winning film The Dali and The Cooper for Sky Arts / Showtime. They are also the co-creators and show runners of three series of the BAFTA-nominated global hit An Idiot Abroad starring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington.
Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee at Me+You Productions, said: “Since starting Me+You Productions, we’ve prided ourselves on working with the most exciting on and off-screen talent to bring new stories and voices to the screens with the highest cinematic values. We loved working with the team at Fremantle on the upcoming Alice & Jack drama series and are now thrilled about making the partnership official. We’re excited about working with such a forward thinking and ambitious company that shares our vision and will help us expand and bring our stories to an even larger international audience.”
Christian Vesper, CEO Global Drama, Fremantle, said: “We’re continually looking at ways to work with the best creative talent from around the world, and Krish and Richard absolutely fit the bill with the award-winning work they’ve been doing at Me+You. We’re so pleased to have them onboard and to develop a brilliant slate of new shows together”.
Jens Richter, CEO Commercial and International, Fremantle, said: “Me+You have been fantastic partners on Alice & Jack and we’re delighted to build on this wonderful collaboration to create more headline, premium dramas. Richard and Krish are accomplished filmmakers bringing a wealth of creative experience, sensibility and talent and we look forward to working with them and the team at Me+You more closely”.
Recently announced first-look deals include Edward Berger and his label Nine Hours, Angelina Jolie, Johan Renck & Michael Parets’ recently launched label Sinestra, Patrick Daly’s Caledonia Productions and the Larraín brothers, as well as ongoing collaborations with acclaimed writers and directors including Luca Guadagnino, Paulo Sorrentino and Michael Winterbottom.
