London, June 30th 2020 – Newly formed London and New York based business International Literary Properties today announced a major first look deal with BBC Studios, allowing both BBC Studios Production and its portfolio of independent producers the opportunity to explore the intellectual property owned and managed by ILP.
The literary management company, set up last year, currently holds the rights for authors including; Georges Simenon, Eric Ambler, Margery Allingham, Edmund Crispin, Dennis Wheatley, Robert Bolt, Richard Hull, George Bellairs, Nicolas Freeling, John Creasey and Michael Innes as well as a minority stake of Evelyn Waugh’s estate.
This deal is the first major production partnership deal announced by ILP and demonstrates how pro-actively the company will manage its estates, providing new opportunities for exploitation across all media platforms.
Helmed in the UK by CEO Hilary Strong (formerly CEO of the Agatha Christie estate), and Anthology Group founder, Bob Benton, with the New York-headquartered business led by literary veteran Scott Hoffman as Global CEO and media entrepreneur Ted Green as Executive Chairman, ILP acquires the rights in literary estates from authors and their heirs who seek financial certainty from an experienced and engaged buyer with decades of experience in literary, TV, film, and theatre management and development.
Hilary Strong, CEO for ILP UK, says, “This first look deal with BBC Studios provides ILP with the perfect global creative partner to promote Britain’s heritage in literature and re-discover these classic works through modern adaptations for a global audience. BBC Studios and its partner scripted production companies provide us with a very exciting opportunity to not only fast-track these works into production, but to make them with the high-end production values they deserve. Our creative team headed up by Emma Bell and Andy Brunskill will be producing creative bibles for each estate providing producers with a detailed catalogue highlighting the opportunities they hold for screen adaptation. We look forward to developing the production partnerships this deal promotes.”
Mark Linsey, Chief Creative Officer for BBC Studios says: “BBC Studios exists to champion the very best of British creativity, telling stories which resonate with audiences around the world. Literary classics are timeless, and in the right creative hands can be adapted to feel contemporary and of the moment. We look actively for partnerships and collaborations which showcase British talent at its finest, and we’re excited about the creative opportunities that this deal provides, both for BBC Studios Production and our portfolio of Independent producers.”
Scott Hoffman, Global CEO for ILP UK, says, “By putting together our world-class estates with the global media power of the BBC and its affiliated production companies, we’re advancing our promise to honor these extraordinary literary legacies and their creators while bringing timeless characters and stories to a new generation of viewers and readers.”
The deal was brokered by Hilary Strong at ILP and Martin Rakusen for BBC Studios.
