Harlan Coben’s ‘Missing You’ Adaptation Adds Ashley Walters, James Nesbitt – Global Bulletin
CASTING
The forthcoming adaptation of Harlan Coben’s “Missing You” has added “Top Boy’s” Ashley Walters as Josh Buchanan, James Nesbitt (“Stay Close”) as Calligan and “Love is Blind” co-host Matt Jay-Willis as Darryl.
They’ll join Rosalind Eleazar, Jessica Plummer and Richard Armitage in the five-part series for Netflix, which tells the story of a detective whose long-lost fiancé suddenly re-appears via a dating app, forcing her to confront her father’s murder. Quay Street Productions are producing, with the location being moved from the U.S. to Manchester in the U.K.
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The series follows Quay Street’s adaptation of another Harlen Coban novel, “Fool Me Once,” which was a hit for Netflix earlier this year.
ROYALTIES
Rights management company Sacem revealed it collected a whopping €1.487 billion ($1.6 billion) in royalties on behalf of its members in 2023. The sum was 5% more than in 2022.
Of that figure, €557 million came from online, a 13% increase on the previous year, while €318 million came from TV, radio or telecoms (a 4% drop on the previous year) and €388 million in general royalties (an increase of 18.5% on 2022).
The company’s board of directors also voted to renew CEO Cécile Rap-Veber‘s term.
Sacem, which represents authors, composers and publishers, will allocate €1.233 billion of the total amount to rights holders with a vote at the upcoming general meeting to decide whether to pay an additional €37 million in royalties out of the surplus on the 2023 management account.
MAGIC PENNY
U.K. game show host Stephen Mulhern is moving his hit ITV series “In For a Penny” to Orlando for its grand finale, which will take place at the Walt Disney World Resort. The Lifted Entertainment and Mitre Studios co-production will conclude on June 8 with an extravaganza featuring Disney and Star Wars characters, attractions and challenges that will put contestants through their paces.
“It’s been an amazing experience taking the show outside of the U.K. for the first time ever and having both U.S. and U.K. contestants take part in the gameplay,” said Mulhern. “I also loved meeting Mickey Mouse, my favourite Disney character and a fellow magician!”
APPOINTMENTS
“The Tourist” producer Two Brothers Pictures is bolstering its scripted team with a series of promotions and new hires. Sarah Hammond has been upped from executive producer to chief creative officer and Michael Latif to chief operating officer while comedy producer Katie Churchill has been promoted to comedy executive. Joining the trio are Daisy Mount, who moves over from Prime Video as drama executive, and Cleo Hetherington who joins as head of development from Drama Republic
The All3Media company was founded in 2014 by managing directors Harry and Jack Williams, who said: “As we head into our tenth successful year, we’re proud of how much we’ve grown our scripted team to expand our drama and comedy slate. We look forward to continuing to produce premium, entertaining and original drama and comedy for audiences worldwide.”
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“The Masked Singer” producer Bandicoot Scotland, a joint venture with global production group Argonon, has appointed Nick Johns to the newly created role of head of digital, reporting into Bandicoot’s co-founders, managing director Derek McLean and creative director Daniel Nettleton. Johns will spearhead digital-first ventures and oversee the digital output for Bandicoot’s brands, including “The Masked Singer.” Collaborating with head of development Kate Stannard, he will craft TV projects with digital elements and explore digital concepts for traditional platforms.
Johns, who produced the “Maskcast” podcast for Bandicoot, brings experience from Lime Pictures and STV, with credits like “Dance Monsters” (Netflix) and “Babushka” (ITV).
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