{"id":919573,"date":"2026-10-07T16:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T16:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/919573\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T16:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T16:06:12","slug":"fremantle-mipcom-2026-baywatch-and-matthew-macfadyen-claire-foy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/919573\/","title":{"rendered":"Fremantle Mipcom 2026: ‘Baywatch’ and Matthew Macfadyen, Claire Foy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tGalvanized by the weighty sales and deal prospects on its \u201cBaywatch<\/a>\u201d reboot, Fremantle<\/a> is set to hit the Croisette with a powerhouse lineup as it drives ever more into \u201cmainstream escapism, entertainment, big brands, IP,\u201d said Fremantle CEO Commercial, International Jens Richter.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cOver the last two years, we\u2019ve definitely put our investments, heavily towards mainstream recognizable talent, IP, escapism it can be a show from Roma Roth, it can be murder, it can be a beautiful walk coast to coast,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201c\u2018Baywatch\u2019 is the ultimate escapism. And the location is truly, outrageously beautiful, Santa Monica beach,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\n\tFremantle will host at its stand a \u201cBaywatch\u201d-themed party on Monday, with some cast in attendance, and a panel on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\n\tIt\u2019s also Mipcom<\/a>\u2019s biggest brand. \u201cCompared to five, six, seven eight years ago, buyers have less marketing budgets to spend, so when you think about 2026, one big selling point is brand recognition. Now it\u2019s a lot easier for everybody if the marketing is actually built into the show already,\u201d Richter added.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cOne telling point that we have struck gold was when we sold \u2018Baywatch\u2019 to Sky in the UK and Ireland and the story was picked up by The Sun, one of the top tabloid newspaper in the U.K.,\u201d Richter remembered. \u201cNormally newspapers start writing about shows when they are just about to premiere, and that happened in every single [international] market.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tBuilt-in marketing can be the original TV show, the IP of a book or cast recognition, he argued.<\/p>\n

\n\tFremantle\u2019s drama series lineup has some such cast. Claire Foy (\u201cThe Crown\u201d) and Matthew Macfadyen (\u201cSuccession\u201d) star in \u201cYou Are Here,\u201d from \u201cNormal People\u201d director Lenny Abrahamson and producer Element Pictures<\/a>. \u201cMasters of the Air\u201d star Anthony Boyle leads \u201cClose to Home,\u201d another Element Pictures title, and \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy\u201d 18-season veteran Kevin McKidd stars in ITV \u201cThe Only Suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFremantle\u2019s 2026 scripted lineup is also delivered by significant players on Europe\u2019s film-TV scene. Led by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, Element Pictures also produced \u201cPoor Things,\u201d \u201cThe Favourite,\u201d and most recently four-time Oscar nominee \u201cBugonia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cElement Pictures is certainly one of the production companies out there that has a great track record and therefore also trust with buyers and talent. We have the BBC and Starz in as co-production partners. They came in on board early,\u201d said Richter.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cRoma Roth is also somebody people trust. She created \u2018Virgin River\u2019 for Netflix, \u2018Sullivan\u2019s Crossing\u2019 for us and now at the Upfronts in May, Bell Media, Fremantle and Reel World Management<\/a> are back together in the next Robyn Carr book, \u2018Thunder Point\u2019 and we are in the market pitching.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tA twist-sluiced thriller building to a shocking final reveal, another Mipcom title, \u201cThe Only Suspect\u201d is produced by Red Planet Pictures, behind BBC fixture \u201cDeath in Paradise,\u201d is now in its 15th season and licensed to 230 territories.<\/p>\n

\n\tTwo more Mipcom series \u2013 family suspense drama \u201cThe Cold Song\u201d and gritty urban crime thriller \u201cSide Effects\u201d \u2013 are tapped from a third Fremantle company, Scandinavian class-act powerhouse Miso Film<\/a>, behind \u201c1864,\u201d \u201cWarrior,\u201d The Rain,\u201d \u201cThe Investigation\u201d and \u201cFaithless.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe have had highly premium drama from Miso in the past like \u2018The Investigation,\u2019 which back in the day we were able to place with HBO in the U.S., which for a Danish drama is highly unusual,\u201d said Richter.<\/p>\n

\n\tOnly 12-14% of new series premieres each year are based on existing IP but existing IP accounts for 40%-50% of the top 100 most in-demand series, Parrot Analytics Jaime Otero said last week at Iberseries & Platino Industria.<\/p>\n

\n\tFour of Fremantle\u2019s top seven scripted titles at Mipcom adapt novels: \u201cThe Only Suspect is \u201d adapted by Simon Ashdown from the original novel by Louise Candlish and \u201cYou Are Here\u201d with David Nicholls writing the eight-part makeover of his own novel.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cNovels are very good proof of concept, plus we get some of the novel fans as well in. It\u2019s smart,\u201d said Richter. \u201cBaywatch\u201d has pre-sold strongly in a major multi-territory first-window deal with Prime Video. \u201cWe have had tremendous pre-sales with \u2018Baywatch\u2019 around the world with Amazon Prime Video across seven territories, Sky for the UK and Ireland, and Stan for Australia,\u201d said Richter.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe are continuing negotiations for first windows around the world, and we will sell second-window deals in these Prime Video territories,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThere is an awareness and acceptance in the market that a great show can do a great job for various windows, especially if you have it alternating between the subscription world and a free-to-air world,\u201d he added, noting \u201cSullivan\u2019s Crossing\u201d has sold in over 180 territories and became CTV\u2019s No. 1 original drama in Canada and CW\u2019s top-rated scripted series in the U.S. in a non-growing linear system, playing in second window in both countries on Netflix, and was the first Canadian drama to be No. 1 on Netflix in the U.S. \u201cNow we\u2019re looking forward to Season 5.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Sullivan\u2019s Crossing\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cBaywatch\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t12 x 60 ; Network: FOX Entertainment: Production company: Co-produced by Fremantle and Fox Entertainment<\/p>\n

\n\tDistributor: FOX Entertainment Global holds all domestic distribution rights, and Fremantle manages all international sales.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe big one. Bowing on Fox and Sky in January 2027 and show-run by Matt Nix (\u201cThe Good Guys,\u201d \u201cThe Gifted\u201d), a 12-episode reboot of the hugely iconic, most-watched TV show of its time.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cArrow\u2019s\u201d Stephen Amell, Jessica Belkin (\u201cElle\u201d) and Shay Mitchell (\u201cPretty Little Liars\u201d) lead the new red swimsuit cast in a show that delivers \u201chigh-stakes rescues, explosive drama and plenty of beachside heat,\u201d Fremantle has promised.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cYou Are Here\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t8 episodes; Network: BBC and Starz; Production company: Element Pictures; Distributor: Fremantle with De Maio Entertainment spearheading the partnership with Starz<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cYou can still have premium,\u201d said Richter. One case in point: Lenny Abrahamson\u2019s \u201cYou Are Here.\u201d Starring Foy (\u201cThe Crown\u201d) and Macfadyen (\u201cSuccession\u201d) as Marnie and Michael are thrown together on a coast-to-coast epic walk in northern England, teetering on the \u201cbrink of a relationship neither was looking for, but one that might be exactly what they both need.\u201d And navigating an undeniable attraction that is as exhilarating as it is terrifying,\u201d the synopsis says. \u201cIt\u2019s Element Pictures, it\u2019s based on David Nicholls\u2019 best-selling, captivating novel and has an amazing cast,\u201d said Richter.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe Only Suspect\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t4 x 60 ; network: ITV; production company: Red Planet Pictures, (\u201dDeath in Paradise, Sanditon\u201d) a Fremantle company; Distributor: Fremantle<\/p>\n

\n\tKevin McKidd plays Alex, who has a picture-perfect life with wife Beth until an abandoned railway track begins to be transformed into nature trail where 30 years earlier in 1995 a body is buried by the track. Now Alex is threatened by catastrophe. Based on the Louise Candish novel, which packs multiple shocking revelations, the biggest near the end.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cSide Effects\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t6 episodes; Network: TV 2; production company: TV 2 and Miso Film; distributor: Fremantle<\/p>\n

\n\tA gritty urban thriller with a timely social underbelly as a large shipment of pills: Denmark\u2019s streets are flooded with lethal synthetic drugs with horrific side effects prompting Denmark\u2019s top crime unit to battle to find the criminals behind the operation and stop them in their tracks. \u201cThose Who Kill\u201d writer Lasse Kyed Rasmussen and director Jonas Alexander Arnby and producers Jonas Allen and Peter Bose at Miso Film, also behind \u201cThe Investigation\u201d and \u201cFaithless.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cClose to Home\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t4 x 60; Network: Channel 4; Production company: Element Pictures, a Fremantle company; distributor: Fremantle<\/p>\n

\n\tBack in Belfast from university, Sean (Anthony Boyle) is back to his old habits, such as all night binges; until he assaults a stranger at a party and even that life falls apart. Back with his mother, Sean reconnects with former girlfriend Mair\u00e9ad (Jessica Reynolds), and slowly finds through writing a way to move forward.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe Cold Song\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t6 episodes; network: SVT and Film i V\u00e4st; production company: Miso Film Sweden, SVT Film, Film i V\u00e4st, and Northern European public service broadcasters through the New8 initiative; distributor: Fremantle<\/p>\n

\n\tSiri, a restaurant owner, and her husband novelist Jon lead a busy life in Stockholm with their two daughters. This Summer she plans an unwelcome 75th birthday party for her mother Jenny. Then Mille, the maid she\u2019s hired, disappears. The family is forced to confront hidden secrets and guilt.\u201d Produced by Christian Rank (\u201cFaithless\u201d) and David Gylling (\u201cWallander\u201d) from Miso Film Sweden.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWrong Move\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNetwork: Channel 4; production company: Roughcut Television; distributor: Fremantle<\/p>\n

\n\tCreated by Ben Edwards (\u201cComa\u201d), with cast led by David Thewlis (\u201cNaked\u201d) and billed as a dark comedy about \u201cthree families bound by one fatal mistake,\u201d following them in a house buying\/selling chain entangled with a psychopath.<\/p>\n

\n\tDocumentaries<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cEarth\u2019s Magic Moments\u201d is \u201cbig, feel-good, factual done at big epic budgets with state of the art filming techniques, filmed across four extraordinary ecosystems. It\u2019s a very expensive show for the whole family to really fall in love with nature, and \u2018AI: Probably Nothing to Worry About\u2019 is a very relevant movie. So we have big shows and big topics,\u201d Richter said.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAI: Probably Nothing to Worry About\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t1 x 90 min; network:Channel 4; production company: 72 Films<\/p>\n

\n\tAn ironic title of course. Described as the fullest account yet of the AI business, led by Nobel Prize winner Geoffrey Hilton, who helped build it, alongside whistleblowers from OpenAI. World premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival to positive reviews. \u201cAn ominous documentary,\u201dsaid one. \u201cBut the scariest takeaway may not actually be the artificial intelligence, so much as the humans who\u2019ve created and disseminated it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cEarth\u2019s Magic Moments\u201d(w\/t)<\/p>\n

\n\t4 x 1 hour ; Network: BBC One (U.K.), PBS (U.S.); production company: Offspring Films<\/p>\n

\n\tPremium natural history storytelling with a time-led concept: When conditions suddenly align, wildlife springs into action: \u201cAnimals must hunt, feed, find a mate and raise young.\u201d Caught in four episodes ranging from high tide in the Australian coral reef to just before dawn in the Kalahari Desert. Pre-sold to France T\u00e9l\u00e9visions, whose Caroline B\u00e9har hailed as \u201cambitious project with a talented and innovative production team\u201d and cinematic seamless shoots will offer our audience an immersive experience with mother nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Earth\u2019s Magic Moments\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\tEntertainment<\/p>\n

\n\tBy way of reaction of buyers in the run-up to Mipcom, what is selling and why? \u201cThe strongest response has been to formats with a clear hook that you understand straight away. Something visual, easy to play along with and have enough jeopardy to keep viewers watching,\u201d said Fremantle Head of Global Entertainment Ben Crompton. \u201cThat\u2019s what is cutting through with \u2018Stacks of Cash\u2019 and \u2018The Tunnel.\u2019 Both are simple to grasp, but add spectacle and real tension.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn a market where every dollar counts, Fremantle formats offer priceless cost-efficiency. \u201cBuyers are also looking for shows that feel ambitious but are still practical to produce. The models behind \u2018Holey Moley,\u2019 \u2018Stacks of Cash\u2019 and \u2018The Tunnel\u2019 allow different territories to share the same production set-up, while bringing their own local hosts, contestants and personality,\u201d said Crompton.<\/p>\n

\n\tHe added: \u201cThat\u2019s where Fremantle can add real value: combining strong ideas from our own labels and partners, such as Eureka, with our global network and production experience to help make formats work in different markets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAt Mipcom 2026, Fremantle will also be shopping dating shows \u201cMaison Tabou,\u201d \u201cLove Lens\u201d and \u201cWingman.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cFremantle also has a long history in dating, from \u2018Farmer Wants a Wife,\u2019 which is still delivering strong audiences after 25 years,\u201d Crompton noted. \u201cThis year\u2019s dating slate builds on that heritage while looking at modern relationships in different ways. \u2018Maison Tabou,\u2019 \u2018Love Lens\u2019 and \u2018Wingman\u2019 all have clear, contemporary hooks that feel like they say something about or solve a problem for today\u2019s singles, and can be adapted across territories to be culturally specific.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tPhysical elements\u2019 \u201cmain benefit is that the gameplay is instantly visible,\u201d said Crompton. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to be a trivia expert to understand that the tower might fall or that someone is racing through the Tunnel. The physical elements make the jeopardy clear, create strong social moments and make the shows easy to watch and play along with across generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tA closer look at four titles:<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cStacks of Cash\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNetwork: TVI, Portugal; production company: Eureka Studios, Fremantle Portugal<\/p>\n

\n\tSix contestants answer questions to earn uniquely shaped blocks, then use an enormous claw to build an increasingly teetering tower. \u201cThe addictive fun of stacking games, built into a primetime spectacle of a game show, with instant family play-along,\u201dsaid Fremantle. \u201cStacking games have an addictive simplicity everyone understands, we\u2019ve all played Tetris and Jenga, and I\u2019ve wasted a lot of money on claw machines. Eureka have turned that familiar obsession into a high-stakes format that feels completely unique,\u201d said Crompton. The series has commissions from CBS in the U.S. and Seven in Australia, plus a strong number-one launch on TVI Portugal.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Stacks of Cash\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe Tunnel\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNetwork: RTVE, Spain; production company: Eureka Studios, Fremantle Spain<\/p>\n

\n\t70 contestants enter the arena. Two at a time face a spectacular LED Tunnel: racing through rapid-fire picture trivia questions, as correct answers thrust them forward and mistakes hurtle them back. \u201cThe Tunnel\u201d has two seasons commissioned by public broadcaster RTVE in Spain and delivered lead channel TVE 1\u2019s best new gameshow launch of 2026, which saw over 2 million unique viewers reached per episode. A pilot is also currently in motion with a major U.S. broadcaster.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cHitster\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNetwork: RTL in Germany, RTVE in Spain, Quebecor Content in Canada and RTL4 in the Netherlands<\/p>\n

\n\tBased on the music party game, a top seller in parts of Europe and Canada, and now in production across five major markets: Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Poland and Canada. In a studio-based TV show two teams, pairing people from different generations, compete hearing hit after hit to place 10 tracks in a chronological order.<\/p>\n

\n\tCreatively developed by Fremantle Netherlands and Amsterdam\/Antwerp based NewBe together with Jumbo Group.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cHoley Moley\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Holey Moley\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\tNetwork: Created for ABC, Channel 7 in Australia, ITV in U.K., Prime Video in Germany, TF1 in France; Production company: Created for ABC by Eureka Productions, Talkback Thames and Mitre Studios for U.K., UFA Show & Factual in Germany, Fremantle France in France.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cBig, comedy-led entertainment,\u201d said Crompton. An extreme mini-golf competition where contestants, from mini-golf enthusiasts to everyday thrill-seekers, brave wild obstacles \u2013 spinning windmills, foam hammers, and slippery slopes \u2013 hilarious host commentary, and epic challenges to win the coveted plaid jacket, golden putter, and cash prize.<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter successful seasons on ABC in the U.S. and Seven in Australia, \u201cHoley Moly\u201d is now expanding through Fremantle\u2019s Portugal-based production hub, with series coming for ITV in the U.K., Prime Video in Germany and TF1 in France.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t(L-R) Ben Crompton Jens Richter, Fremantle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Galvanized by the weighty sales and deal prospects on its \u201cBaywatch\u201d reboot, Fremantle is set to hit the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":919574,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[64,63,108183,245097,134,10992,125592,487665,487666,427],"class_list":["post-919573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-baywatch","tag-element-pictures","tag-entertainment","tag-fremantle","tag-mipcom","tag-miso-film","tag-reel-world-management","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=919573"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919573\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/919574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=919573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=919573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=919573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}