Newen Studios Renews Financial Pact With Anton
Newen Connect has renewed its pact with global production and financing studio Anton for a further three years. This sees the Newen Studios subsidiary receive investment in exchange for Anton gaining shared distribution revenue. It is the third extension to the agreement, which began in 2019, and means Newen Connect will now focus on developing further series, while Anton gets to deepen its ties with Newen labels such as UCG and Jude Law’s Riff Raff Entertainment. To datum the pact has led to Anton investing in more than 70 productions from across Europe, including the recently launched French thriller series Cat’s Eyes, plus Swedish political thriller 8 Months and upcoming sci-fi film We Come in Peace. “Newen Connect has significant plans both in the range of the projects we want to co-develop and invest in over the coming years… this partnership with Anton will allow us to deliver against our strategy,” said Newen Connect CEO Rudolph Buet.
Beta Royal Drama ‘Maxima’ Rolls Cameras On Season 2
Beta Films’ royal drama Maxima has rolled cameras on a second season. The show starts with Maxima and Willem-Alexander celebrating their first Queen’s Day together with the royal family, which is held each year in spring in honor of the current monarchs’ birthday. Starring Argentinian actor Delfina Chaves, the Crown-esque show has been a hit for Beta in its local Netherlands and has also sold around the world. Saskia Diesing and Joosje Duk returned to direct Season 2, while scripts were written by Rifka Lodeizen and Daan Gielis. We revealed news of the second season back in April.
Norway’s NRK Greenlights Medical & Crime Dramas
Norwegian pubcaster NRK has greenlit drama series Still Breathing and The Strain. The former is a 16-episode medical drama following four ambitious medical interns working at a struggling Norwegian hospital. The latter is a crime thriller, spotlighting a former lawyer-turned- gardener thrust into the underworld to save her daughter after a reckless mistake puts them both in danger. Both shows are being produced by Banijay-backed Rubicon TV. “”These series underscore Rubicon’s commitment to crafting stories examining contemporary societal issues,” said CEO Ivar Køhn.