Industry

Fremantle has inked a first look and development agreement with Astral Projection, the renowned production company co-founded by Rachel Weisz (known for her roles in The Constant Gardener, Disobedience, and The Favourite) and British executive producer Polly Stokes (notable for her work on American Honey, Wild Rose, and The Nest).

Over the next three years, Fremantle will serve as the primary platform for Astral Projection's diverse range of television and film projects, fostering close collaboration with both Fremantle’s Global Drama division and its international distribution team. The partnership was initiated by Christian Vesper, Fremantle’s CEO Global Drama, and COO Global Drama, Seb Shorr. The negotiation process was facilitated by Fran Denny, VP Legal and Business Affairs Global Drama representing Fremantle, along with James Kay and Jessica Hudson from Sheridans acting on behalf of Astral Projection.

Another project in Astral Projection's portfolio is Dead Ringers, a six-part psychological thriller produced for Amazon, created by Alice Birch, featuring Weisz in dual lead roles, offering a gender-swapped reinterpretation of the 1988 David Cronenberg film. Stokes, a former Creative Executive at Film4, shares a longstanding collaboration with Weisz and together they are cultivating a portfolio of projects, spanning television and film, with Rebecca Servadio serving as Astral’s literary consultant.

This partnership marks Fremantle's latest creative endeavor, following its recent first look development agreement with Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee’s BAFTA-winning UK production house, Me+You Productions (known for Close to You and I AM...), which stemmed from their collaboration on the original TV drama, Alice & Jack, starring award-winning actors Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson.

Rachel Weisz, Executive Producer at Astral Projection, said: “We are thrilled to have found such experienced and trusting partners in Fremantle. As soon as we met Christian and Seb, we knew they were a perfect fit for our taste and energy and that this would be a brilliant home for Astral.”

Polly Stokes, Executive Producer at Astral Projection, added: “We aim to tell stories that are surprising and affirming — narratives that discover joy in unexpected and daring places. We were immediately drawn to Fremantle’s extensive reach across film and TV, and their unwavering belief in exceptional talent. We can’t wait to embark on this exciting journey.”

Christian Vesper, CEO Global Drama at Fremantle, commented: “We’ve long admired Polly and Rachel’s careers. The breadth, scale, and acclaim of their combined body of work across television and film is truly impressive, and I’ve no doubt this is going to be a fruitful and exciting partnership. I couldn't be happier to welcome them to the Fremantle family and begin collaborating on world-class projects together.”

Astral Projection now joins a prestigious collective of creatives under the Fremantle banner, alongside other first look deals with luminaries such as Edward Berger and his label Nine Hours, Angelina Jolie, Johan Renck and Michael Parets’ recently launched label Sinestra, Patrick Daly’s Caledonia Productions, and Pablo Larraín’s Fabula. Fremantle also maintains ongoing collaborations with acclaimed writers and directors including Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Sorrentino, and Michael Winterbottom.