‘Sex Education’ Star Asa Butterfield Lands First Theater Role
Sex Education star Asa Butterfield has landed his first stage role with a project about the actor who came second to playing Harry Potter in the movie franchise. The limited four week-run at London’s Riverside Studios will see Butterfield play Martin Hill in Second Best. At age 10, Martin was on the brink of stardom, but he narrowly missed out and now embarks on the ultimate adventure in adulthood – fatherhood. Butterfield said: “It’s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, a universal tale of ‘what ifs’, and I can’t wait to bring it to life on stage for the very first time.” Based on the David Foenkinos novel, the play is written by Barney Norris and directed by Michael Longhurst. Butterfield broke out playing Otis Milburn in Netflix smash Sex Education. Other credits include The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Nanny McPhee and Ender’s Game.
Luti Fagbenle Launches Indie With ‘Supacell’ Producer
Luti Fagbenle has launched an indie and brought in Supacell producer Sheila Nortley to lead its TV drama slate. Osun Group will make scripted and unscripted high-end TV, with Nortley joining on a partnership deal. She will continue to work as an independent producer concurrently. Fagbenle is the founder of Luti Media, which made Maxxx starring his brother, O T Fagbenle. Luti Media will continue making branded content and music videos while Osun focuses on TV. Nortley has worked on some of the biggest Netflix UK hits in recent years including Supacell and Harlan Coben’s Stay Close. Fagbenle said: “Our vision for Osun is to provide the best home for diverse talent to tell their stories, offering the infrastructure and culturally attuned leadership needed to execute their most ambitious projects. Sheila’s outstanding track record and dedication to diverse storytelling align perfectly with our vision. Fresh off the success of the hit series Supacell, the timing couldn’t be better.”
‘Masked Singer’ Heading To India
India is about to witness some masked singers. O4 Media, Korea’s MBC and Arré Studio have struck a local option deal and will forge a version for Indian audiences. Emerging in Korea, The Masked Singer, in which celebrities dress up and sing while a panel of famous judges tries to guess who they are and one is eliminated per week, is now in more than 50 territories including the U.S. on Fox and UK on ITV. For both networks it is one of their best-performing entertainment shows. “The format’s success across the globe speaks to its universal appeal, and we believe that Indian audiences, with their passionate love for music, will embrace the title with the same enthusiasm,” said O4 boss Gary Pudney.
Federation Stories & Soho Studios Make Development Hires
Big news in the UK TV development world with Federation Stories and Asylum Entertainment-backed Soho Studios hiring senior execs. The UK division of the French major has signed up BBC drama commissioning exec Beth Warin as Head of Development. At the BBC she worked across the likes of The Night Manager Season 2 and Lockerbie. She will oversee development at Fed Stories, which has just wrapped on UKTV’s I, Jack Wright and said it has several high-profile projects in development with broadcasters in the UK, the U.S. and Europe. Soho, meanwhile, has made its first senior hire with Georgia Wagstaff joining as SVP Development. Wagstaff and Soho founder Ian Lamarra have collaborated on and off down the years at the likes of Zodiak Media Group and Alaska. Wagstaff will work with key agents, talent and distributors to package ideas for targeted buyers across the globe. Lamarra said: “Georgia’s appointment will really help supercharge our growth across UK, US and beyond as we aim to become the go-to studio for the most interesting talent to bring their ideas and passions.”