A trio of Night Train Media titles will shop internationally via Sphere Abacus.
The agreement will see Bell Media-owned Sphere Abacus selling Sally Philips-starring cozy crime drama The Hairdresser Mysteries, SkyShowtime drama The Trio and Sky Arts doc Ian Fleming and the Curse of James Bond.
Night Train previously distributed most of its content through Eccho Rights, but has branched out alone after a change in circumstances. As we revealed in March, the company sold its stakes in Eccho, Curve Media and BossaNova Media, and has since spread its wings wider.
Of the new shows, The Hairdresser Mysteries is an upcoming six-part Mill Bay Media production for the BBC, stars Phillips (Veep, Bridget Jones’s Diary) as an upmarket hair stylist in the 1970s, “where small-town gossip leads to big-time sleuthing.”
Also starring Charlotte Jordan and Ben Castle-Gibb, it comes from Jim Cartwright, who co-wrote with David Semple and Mark Catley. Directors are Paul Gibson, Jermain Julien and Tracey Larcombe. The Trio is a six half-hour drama based on the bestselling novel by Johanna Hedman, made produced by SF Studios for SkyShowtime. The Swedish series is billed as “a story about love, sex and passion – a reflection of the meaning of life and the relentless passage of time,” starring Felix Sandman (Quicksand, Last Light), August Wittgenstein (Das Boot, Faithless), Seth Manteus, Nina Zanjani and Rebecka Harper. Ian Fleming and the Curse of James Bond – shopped in one- and two-part formats – is directed by Adam Low and produced by Embankment Films and Lone Star Productions. The Sky Arts doc looks to uncover the myth of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.
Connecting his novels, the ‘Bond’ feature films and rare archive footage of the late author and his era, the film contains contributions from Ralph Fiennes, William Boyd, Kate Mosse, Nicholas Shakespeare and Marlon James, and readings by Helena Bonham Carter.
Sphere Abacus, know for selling Heated Rivalry and Leaving Neverland, already sells Night Train shows Deadline, Catch Me A Killer, Vikings: The Rise and Fall, Conquistadors: The Rise and Fall and Missile From The East.
Kloiber, CEO of Night Train Media, said: “Following the recent restructures with Night Train Media, we are excited to be working once again with Sphere Abacus to bring both our new and existing series to the international market. Their strong track record and global reach make them the perfect distribution partner.” Sphere Abacus’ Managing Director, Jonathan Ford, added: “We’re delighted to continue our collaboration with Night Train Media. Their commitment and creative vision for high-quality productions embody the type of programming we represent.”
