Sky Studios and Fremantle’s The Apartment have today announced a new multi-year development and production partnership. Under the deal, Sky Studios will provide development funding for a minimum of three shows alongside a commitment to produce.
Lorenzo Mieli, a co-founder of Fremantle’s Wildside and producer behind hit shows such as The Young Pope and My Brilliant Friend, became the CEO of The Apartment in January 2020. The newly formed label is a subsidiary of global production and distribution giant Fremantle, which expanded its footprint in Italy by setting up The Apartment. This new label will focus on the creation and development of global drama produced with international talent behind and in front of the camera.
The deal strengthens the relationship between Sky and Lorenzo Mieli, who has produced a number of international hits for Sky and HBO including Paolo Sorrentino’s recently aired The New Pope and Luca Guadagnino’s We Are Who We Are.
Working together, Sky Studios and The Apartment will focus on the creation and development of high-end global drama with a uniquely European sensibility.
Gary Davey, CEO, Sky Studios: “Over the past few years, we have developed a strong creative partnership with Lorenzo Mieli and the time is now right for both The Apartment and Sky Studios to take our creative ambition to the next level. Lorenzo has a proven track record in bringing viewers sophisticated, international drama, working with world-class talent on both sides of the camera.I am excited about the projects we already have in the pipeline and can’t wait to bring them to Sky’s 24m customers in Europe and beyond.”
Lorenzo Mieli, CEO, The Apartment: “Signing this contract is first of all a beautiful way to seal a long-standing and much-valued professional relationship between myself, Gary Davey and Sky. Years of work with a company and with people who have an enlightened and enlightening vision of our sector. Together we turned the idea of producing high quality international series from Europe into a concrete reality, creating a new scenario in a constantly evolving market. For these reasons I am so proud that this agreement with Sky Studios is the first we announce for The Apartment, in the evolving content market we are living in it is crucial to work with partners that share our same creative vision.”
