Endemol Shine North America scores two pilot orders from FOX
Details
Joseph O'Halloran
| 14 February 2019

Global content creator, producer and distributor Endemol Shine Group has won two pilot orders from US broadcaster FOX for series originating from its divisions in Australia and France.

First will be as yet untitled Annie Weisman and Jason Katims drama based on original Endemol Shine Australia series Sisters from Jonathan Gavin and Imogen Banks. Only child Julia Beckley has her life turned upside down when it’s revealed that her father, a pioneering Nobel Prize-winning fertility doctor, used his own sperm to conceive dozens of children over the course of his career. Julia discovers two new sisters — her former best friend and an ex-Olympic athlete. The women attempt to form an untraditional family and lean on each other as they grapple with their own identity crises.

The drama is from Universal Television in association with Endemol Shine North America, with Annie Weisman serving as writing executive producer and Jason Katims, Jeni Mulein, Imogen Banks and Sharon Levy serving as non-writing executive producers.

Inspired by the series Quadras, from Endemol Shine France, the second drama is described as a structurally inventive dramedy, in which the entire first season takes place over the course of a single night at a wedding. The wedding party then reveal truths about both their present and past, with things that aren’t always what they seem and explore the complicated bonds of love, friendship and family at different stages of life.

The one-hour drama from 20th Century Fox Television and Endemol Shine North America, has Tom Kapinos serving as writing executive producer, Sanaa Hamri as directing executive producer and Sharon Levy, Francois-Xavier Demaison, Nicolas Coppermann as non-writing executive producers.

Lisa Fahrenholt, who is vice president, international development, scripted, Endemol Shine North America, is overseeing both projects for the studio in Los Angeles.

Commenting on the commissions, Peter Salmon, chief creative officer at Endemol Shine Group said: “We have an unrivalled network of scripted producers around the world...Our rich slate of programming, particularly those from non-English language markets, which are already proven local hits, are ripe for adaptation by broadcasters and platforms globally. Sharon Levy and the ESNA team are brilliant at delivering to the US market and deserve every credit, too.”

Added Sharon Levy, president, unscripted and scripted television, Endemol Shine North America: “We are truly fortunate to work with such talented producers and writers globally within Endemol Shine Group and we’re thrilled that our scripts for both Sisters and Quadras have resonated with the team at FOX.”