Viaplay defines the true story of a disaster “Roombeek” as the last Dutch original drama series
Viaplay has commissioned its latest Dutch original: a four-part drama from Banjiay Benelux label EndemolShine scripted about the 2000 Enschede fireworks warehouse explosion titled Roombeek. The horrific tragedy killed 23 people and injured 950 and the series will explore its devastating human impact and aftermath. Casting for the series is underway and production will begin in early 2023, with EndemolShine Scripted’s Gerd-Jan van Dalen and Viaplay Group’s Kennard Bos. Launching in the Netherlands in March, the territory’s original scripted Viaplay slate features true crime drama The hunt for Jasper S., directed by Willem Bosch and Pieter Kuijpers; black comedy something stupid, created by novelist Saskia Noort; and the drama of Liesbeth Strik The guilty. Filippa Wallestam, Viaplay Group Chief Content Officer, said: “We have very high ambitions for our Dutch Originals and are committed to working with established and emerging local talent to tell unique stories that can appeal to a wide audience. Roombeek will be a sensitive, high-quality production that goes beyond the headlines to show us some of the human lives touched by a tragic event.
Hammerlake, Ireland’s largest production studio, gets planning approval
Ireland’s plans for the country’s largest film studio have taken a step forward as the planning application for Hammerlake Studios has been approved by a local council. The final decision to grant permission will be made in September. The television, film and content production campus is planned on a 25-acre site in Co Westmeath, approximately 55 minutes from Dublin Airport and aims to attract productions from Hollywood and around the world. Construction is expected to take place in two phases, the first beginning in the first quarter of 2024 and scheduled for one year of construction, and the second will add seven studios to the campus, bringing its total area to 460,000. Planning approval will be subject to the summer of 2023 before work begins in 2025. Executives working on the project have experience from Universal Pictures, Disney and Troy Studios.
Producer Mahesh Danannavar to Remake Yash’s Kannada Film “Googly”
Indian producer Mahesh Danannavar’s MD Media Corp has acquired the rights to remake the romantic comedy in the Kannada language Googly in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and other North Indian languages. Danannavar has just come out of a festival for his recent film in Gujarati Gandhi & Co. and do it again next time Googly, which was written and directed by Pavan Wadeyar and starred film icon Kannada Yash and Kriti Kharbanda alongside Anant Nag and Sadhu Kokila. Cast and crew details have not been finalized. “We will make a more detailed announcement soon, but this is truly an exciting time for all manufacturers,” Danannavar said. “Actors, producers, storytellers are now truly consolidating various industries into one powerful entity called the Indian Film Industry where we can collaborate across regions and create content that transcends all barriers. This film will be a perfect example of that. synergy.
BBC hires Channel 4’s Comm Ed Jonathan Rothery as Head of Pop Music and TV
Long-serving Channel 4 editor Jonathan Rothery returns to the BBC, having left the company in 2004. He has been appointed head of pop music, television, working under the BBC’s music director , Lorna Clarke. Rothery will focus solely on pop music commissions across TV, BBC iPLayer and digital platforms, working with radio and BBC Sounds on projects. It starts on Monday, September 12. Rothery, who has called his new job a ‘dream role’, joins after 10 years at Channel 4, where he was editor overseeing live music events such as the V Festival and the Mercury Music Prize and commissioned shows such as like four on the ground, John and Yoko: Above us, only the sky and George Michael: Freedom. Since 2018, he has also commanded popular entertainment shows such as Sunday brunch, Tattoo fixers, 8 out of 10 cats, Joe Lycett has your back and the upcoming Roku co-funded reality series tempting fortune. Before Channel 4 he worked at Sky and as a freelance producer, having left BBC Music Entertainment 18 years ago.
