Fremantle’s strategic shift: A new era for North American scripted content
A new leadership structure
In a significant move, Fremantle is restructuring its North American scripted business under the leadership of Christian Vesper, the CEO of global drama and film. Vesper will now oversee all drama and film operations for Fremantle across both the U.S. and Europe. This change marks a pivotal moment for the company as it aims to streamline and enhance its global content strategy.
Transition for Dante Di Loreto
As part of this strategic shift, Dante Di Loreto, who has been Fremantle’s North America president of scripted entertainment since 2017, will transition to a producer deal with the company. Di Loreto has been instrumental in building Fremantle’s drama slate, including the award-winning Showtime series Fellow Travelers.
Reporting structure and strategic planning
Fremantle’s North America scripted business and labels will now report directly to Vesper, who will continue to report to Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO Continental Europe. This executive shuffle is part of an ongoing restructuring of Fremantle’s global business. Recently, the group laid off all staff at drama producer Euston Films and documentary label Undeniable in the U.K., although the labels have not been technically shuttered.
A Fremantle representative confirmed that these cuts were part of “ongoing strategic planning” and necessary measures for creating a more effective, coordinated, and streamlined approach to its business.
Addressing rumors and future growth
While Fremantle restructures its operations in Europe and the U.S., its parent company RTL Group has dismissed rumors of pulling out of North America or selling some of its assets in Fremantle. Insiders emphasize that RTL Group and its majority shareholder Bertelsmann are still looking to grow their U.S. presence.
A spokesperson for RTL Group stated, “Expanding our global content business at Fremantle is one of RTL Group’s strategic priorities (…) and the U.S. is Fremantle’s largest market.” The spokesperson further highlighted Fremantle’s strategic growth target to achieve full-year revenue of €3 billion by 2026, noting that the company has grown organically and through acquisitions across all regions and genres, including entertainment, drama & film, and documentaries.
Recent acquisitions in the U.S. include Eureka, Passenger, and a 25% stake in Fabel Entertainment.
Vesper’s expanded portfolio
Christian Vesper will now oversee a large portfolio of labels and talent, including Fremantle-owned labels Element Pictures, Miso Film, Passenger, and Dancing Ledge. Additionally, companies and talent with first-look deals with Fremantle include Kristen Stewart, Dylan Meyer, and Maggie McLean’s Nevermind Pictures; Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín’s Fabula; Rachel Weisz and Polly Stokes’ Astral Projection; Edward Berger’s Nine Hours; Johan Renck and Michael Parets’ Sinestra; Sarah Condon’s Fair Harbour; Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar’s Me+You Productions; and Patrick Daly’s Caledonia Productions.
Collaborations with renowned filmmakers
Fremantle continues to collaborate with renowned filmmakers such as Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Sorrentino, Angelina Jolie, and Michael Winterbottom. The company has been active in the fall festival circuit with Guadagnino’s Queer and Larraín’s Maria, both of which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Queer, starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, is also playing in Toronto, alongside Jolie’s directorial effort Without Blood, M – Son of the Century, Faithless, and The Listeners.
Di Loreto’s legacy and future
Dante Di Loreto, who had reported to Mullin, has a notable legacy with recent outputs including Apple TV+’s The Mosquito Coast and Starz’s American Gods. Before joining Fremantle, Di Loreto was a successful producer for HBO with titles like Temple Grandin and The Normal Heart, as well as working with Ryan Murphy on Glee and American Horror Story.
Unscripted side remains unaffected
The changes in the scripted division do not impact Fremantle’s unscripted side. Earlier this year, Jimmy Fox joined Fremantle as executive vice president of unscripted development and sales for the company’s U.S. operations.
Personal reflections
For cinema and TV series enthusiasts, these changes at Fremantle signal an exciting era of content creation and collaboration. The company’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and nurturing creative talent promises a diverse and rich slate of upcoming projects. As we look forward to new releases and festival premieres, it’s clear that Fremantle’s strategic moves are setting the stage for a dynamic future in the entertainment industry.