Fremantle invests in Lees and James Murdoch-backed AWA
Fremantle Artists, Writers and Artisans (AWA), has acquired a minority stake in US-based indie backed by Lis Murdoch. Chernobyl Produced by Sister and James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems.
AWA works across film, TV and graphic novels Devil’s Highway – based on the comic series by Benjamin Percy and Brent Schoonover – is the first fruit of its collaboration with Fremantle, which began last year with a partnership to co-develop a TV slate. Fremantle and Lupa co-led that investment round alongside long-term supporters of AWA and new capital from several strategic investors.
The Fremantle investment announced today will help AWA’s film and TV arm AWA Studios with strategic input.
“We are delighted to extend our successful partnership with AWA. The collaboration is a perfect strategic fit, giving AWA access to our global footprint, distribution infrastructure and manufacturing expertise, and placing Fremantle at the very forefront of graphic fiction innovation,” said Andrea Scrosati, Fremantle’s Group COO and CEO of Continental Europe.
Matthew Anderson, co-chair and president of AWA Studios, called Fremantle “an international force in scripted drama and film”.
Since its launch, AWA Studios has unveiled its feature film adaptation the chariot by Brian Edward Hill and Priscilla Petraites, which was acquired by Warner Bros. in competitive bidding, Marjorie Finnegan: The Temporal Criminal by Garth Ennis and Goran Sudjuka, which will be directed by Ruben Fleischer and the hotel By John Lees and Dalibor Talajic from director Eli Callahan. Other projects are actively developing.
The extended partnership was led by Scrosati and Anderson. James Murdoch’s Lupa and Lis Murdoch’s popular drama indie Sister have previously supported AWA.
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