Fremantle has locked in a series of scripted sales throughout Asia, led by action-adventure series “Sandokan: The Pirate Prince.”
The Lux Vide-produced “Sandokan,” adapted from Emilio Salgari’s classic saga for Rai, stars Can Yaman, Alanah Bloor, Ed Westwick and John Hannah. The series has been acquired by Rewind’s Hits Now for pan-regional Asia, along with Hulu in Japan and LG U+ in South Korea.
Also from Lux Vide, fast-paced drama “Hotel Costiera” — directed by Emmy winner Adam Bernstein and starring Jesse Williams as a former Marine investigating a missing-person case on the Amalti Coast — will launch on Hits Now for pan-regional Asia, Star Entertainment in India and LG U+ in South Korea.
Sky Original thriller “The Iris Affair,” created by Neil Cross and starring Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander, will debut on BBC First and BBC Player across pan-regional Asia, plus Wowow in Japan.
Now TV Limited in Hong Kong has picked up multiple Fremantle titles, including psychological thriller “Little Disasters” starring Diane Kruger from Roughcut Television; romantic comedy-drama “Film Club” from Gaumont UK, co-created by and starring Aimee Lou Wood and Ralph Davis; drama “The Rumour” from Clapperboard Studios and Cuba Pictures with Rachel Shenton; “Daddy Issues” Season 2 from Fudge Park featuring Wood and David Morrissey; and “Big Mood” Season 2 from Dancing Ledge Productions starring Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West.
LG U+ in South Korea has acquired over 70 hours of Fremantle dramas, including 2025 titles and catalog offerings such as thriller “No Man’s Land” from Haut et Court TV, Masha and Spiro Film; adventure drama “The Luminaries” from Working Title Television and Southern Light Films starring Eva Green; and Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Young Pope” and “The New Pope” with Jude Law.
The deals were unveiled at Singapore’s Asia TV Forum and Market.
“It’s been amazing to see the incredible response to our scripted slate across Asia,” said Haryaty Rahman, executive VP distribution Asia at Fremantle. “The appetite for authentic storytelling has never been stronger, and our partners across the region are really connecting with our bold new dramas and iconic catalogue titles.”
The deals follow Fremantle’s recent announcement that the final season of “My Brilliant Friend: The Story of the Lost Child,” plus the complete box set, is now available on China’s four leading platforms — iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku and Bilibili — marking the first time all four services have simultaneously premiered a non-English language European drama series in China.
