FremantleMedia Off To The Races With Drama Strategy

The commercial and brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, has optioned the rights to produce and distribute The Drivers, a series based on the high-octane 24 hour motor race in Le Mans in the 1950’s/1960’s, as part of its global drama strategy.
This news is on the heels of last week's announcement that FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) plans to elevate its drama offering to finance and package English language European drama series for the U.S. market as well as the rest of the world. As part of its strategy to offer funding to new dramas, FME plans to fund and package The Drivers in Europe and then sell it into the U.S and internationally.
"We are putting significant resources behind our aggressive global drama push. In addition to The Drivers, we have many projects in development and are currently looking for more," stated David Ellender, Global Chief Executive Officer, FME.
He continued: "The Drivers is an exciting property with true transatlantic appeal that lends itself to our expertise in extending brands to their full potential across multiple platforms."
"The Le Mans race is one of the greatest sporting events in history," said Stewart Mackinnon, Chief Executive Officer of Headline Pictures. "Headline is thrilled to be producing this major drama series in partnership with FME and Sennet Entertainment, and is the first of a number of ambitious global projects which we will be announcing over the coming months."
The Drivers will be co-produced by Mark Sennet Entertainment and Headline Pictures. The series will be based on the book, Shelby: The Man, The Cars, the Legend written by Wallace A.Wyss which was optioned from Iconografix.
(BMcN/KMcA)