In a big reveal during a keynote panel at MIPCOM 2024, the global content creation, production and distribution factory THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO announced details of its bold expansion into the North American market. CEO Laura Fernández Espeso and JC Acosta, Head of THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO US & Canada, pulled back the curtain on a strong and diverse lineup of high-quality, English-language feature films, gripping series, and compelling documentaries. The star-studded slate features highly regarded and award-winning global talent, including Evan Katz, Juan José Campanella, Juliet McDaniel, John Turturro, Melissa Leo and Anthony Carbone, to name just a few.
The announcement, made before a full house at the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festival during a panel discussion, was part of MIPCOM’s coveted Media Mastermind series, and also included Pam Healey, who is leading the charge of unscripted content, and Ran Tellem, Head of International Content Development, both of whom shared the stage with Acosta. Academy Award-winner Juan José Campanella (‘The Secret in Their Eyes’) and Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer Evan Katz (‘24’) were both on hand to talk about each of their new projects, which are part of the new MEDIAPRO slate. The panel discussion was moderated by Stewart Clarke, Senior Vice President, International Content at industry trade publication Deadline.
The presentation included important contributions from Erika Kennair, Head of Scripted Content, who ultimately could not travel to Cannes, but has been instrumental in bringing together talent and launching new scripted productions in the US.
THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO US & CANADA upcoming slate includes Witness 36, a high-stakes spy-thriller from Evan Katz; Son of the Bride, Juan José Campanella’s English-language remake of his Oscar-nominated film; Screaming Ball of Chaos, a fun, female-led comedy about a chaotic woman’s bank-robbing spree; Mother Wolf, a heartfelt family drama starring Melissa Leo; Is There No Place on Earth for Me?, a gripping emotional feature written and directed by John Turturro; I Love the Prime Minister, a half-hour comedy set in Canada with Matt Hastings as showrunner; Hollywood Homicide: Robert Blake, a true crime docu-series re-examining the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley; the US adaptation of long-running hit game show Catch Me If You Can with Anthony Carbone as executive producer and showrunner (More detailed information about each project is below).
“The high quality of the content and talent presented today reflect our strong commitment to creating English-language content from our new headquarters in LA and our production centers in New York and Miami,” commented Laura Fdez. Espeso, CEO of THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO. “As part of GRUP MEDIAPRO, we have access to numerous internal resources, which place us in a unique position in the market, with extensive infrastructure in Europe, Latin America and the U.S., allowing us to combine local expertise and global perspective to create universal content.”
Witness 36
Based on the short story by Natacha Caravia, developed for the screen by Daniel Burman (Yosi, the Regretful Spy) and Evan Katz (24), and written by Evan Katz, comes Witness 36, a bold international cat-and-mouse thriller, in which a woman who creates identities for an international witness protection program finds herself in a twisted chase across the globe with one of her creations. Michael Nozik (The Motorcycle Diaries, Syriana) executive produces.
Son of the Bride
Juan José Campanella (Academy Award Winner for The Secret in Their Eyes) will write and direct the English language series adaptation of his critically acclaimed Argentine film, which was Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Language Feature in 2001. Set in Miami, a dissatisfied 40-year-old finds himself in the Cuban Sandwich Generation as he tries to balance his separation, parenthood, and caring for his parents. John Ufland and Doug Stone are attached as Executive Producers.
Screaming Ball of Chaos
The latest scripted series from Juliet McDaniel, whose last book, Mr. and Mrs. American Pie became the AppleTV+ hit, Palm Royale. Screaming Ball of Chaos is a wild ride through the San Gabriel Valley. This modern-day Bonnie and Clyde centers around a chaos-loving woman with a dark past, who enlists a male stripper in an elaborate bank robbing spree that will either bring her romance and a sense of peace, or land them both in Federal prison. Juliet is represented by Sugar23.
Mother Wolf
Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo (The Fighter) stars in acclaimed director Suzi Yoonessi’s feature-length drama about a retired grandmother who unexpectedly becomes the caretaker of her ragtag grandchildren, testing the lengths to which she'll go for her free-spirited daughter's pack of cubs. Produced by Alexander Stegmaier (Mutt), Amanda Marshall (Swiss Army Man, Don’t Think Twice) and Melissa Leo. The Film also stars Matt Walsh (Veep), Arian Moyaed (Succession), Kat Cunning (Marry Me, The Deuce) and Mary Stuart Masterson (Five Nights at Freddy’s, Fried Green Tomatoes).
Is There No Place on Earth for Me?
‘Is There No Place on Earth for Me?’ dives deep into the brilliant mind of Sylvia Frumkin, a woman trapped in the grip of schizophrenia, as her family struggles to navigate the labyrinth of the mental health system during a New York City blackout. With John Turturro writing, directing, and starring in this powerful adaption of Susan Sheehan’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, the darkly comedic story is a roller coaster adventure full of hopes and dreams and twisted love that captures the often-overlooked humanity in the face of chaos and the endless yearning for a home.
I Love the Prime Minister
I Love the Prime Minister is a half-hour comedy following Amanda, a single female Canadian Prime Minister, as she juggles the pressures of leadership with the challenges of modern dating. Created by Ran Tellem, under the direction of showrunner Matt Hastings (The Handmaid's Tale, Shadowhunters) and writer, Tina Hastings (Fallen).
Hollywood Homicide: Robert Blake
True crime documentary series explores the life and controversies surrounding the famed actor who went from starring in iconic films and TV like In Cold Blood and Barreta, to being accused of the 2001 murder of his wife Bonny Lee Bakley. It was a crime and trial that captivated the nation, spawning curiosity and many unanswered questions. From Director Tom Donahue of Mafia Spies and Casting By (co-directing with Noah Blake, Robert Blake’s son), and produced in partnership with CreativeChaos vmg.
Catch Me If You Can
Studio’s long-running hit game show format, with over 10,000 episodes and its signature staircase where contestants battle it out for huge cash prizes. In this series, every step counts, and getting an answer correct can lead to one walking away with a fortune or not. Adapting for prime time in the US in partnership with the executive producer and showrunner of global hit game show, The Floor, Anthony Carbone.
THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO’s impressive productions include internationally acclaimed The Head, The Famous Five, The Young Pope, The New Pope, A Perfect Day, and Hard Truths, the latest film by Mike Leigh, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
With a strategic focus on English-language content creation, production, and distribution, the company launched THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO US AND CANADA in Los Angeles less than six months ago, establishing its footprint in North America and strengthening its presence in the global market, bringing the number of parent company MEDIAPRO GRUP offices globally to 52 and positioning THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO to accelerate its growth across key markets, including the recently acquired Fresco Film, the production service company behind “Game of Thrones” or “House of the Dragon”.