Red Arrow Entertainment Group today announced the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Endor Productions, Hilary Bevan Jones´ TV and film production company. Endor will join UK drama company Mob and US scripted producer Fuse, creating a powerful complementary fit between Red Arrow´s growing roster of international scripted assets.
Bevan Jones is one of the most respected and successful players in the industry, winning a host of awards for ground breaking and influential drama. Bevan Jones built her reputation at the BBC, working on “Not the Nine O´clock News”, “Blackadder” and producing “Red Dwarf”. Moving into drama, she produced the seminal hit series “Cracker” and, in partnership with leading screenwriter Paul Abbott, the multi-award winning “State of Play”.
Bevan Jones also won a primetime Emmy for the acclaimed HBO film “The Girl in the Café”, scripted by Richard Curtis, directed by David Yates, and starring Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald. For Working Title Films she produced “The Boat That Rocked”, written and directed by Richard Curtis. In 2006, Bevan Jones was made Chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the first woman in its 60 year history to hold this position. She championed its charitable commitment to learning and career development and was part of the resurgence of BAFTA, helping position it as an influential force in the global film and TV industry.
Endor has an exciting slate of new TV and Film projects, working with key creative talent including Richard Curtis, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Neil Gaiman, Lenny Henry and Julian Farino. Balancing this work with established creatives, the company also has film projects in development with the BFI with emerging writing and directing talent. First into production for the BBC will be the recently announced William Boyd drama “Restless”, starring Hayley Atwell. Endor´s formats and finished programmes will be sold worldwide by Red Arrow´s programme distribution arm, SevenOne International.
Jan Frouman, Group Managing Director of Red Arrow, said: “We jumped at the chance to partner with a producer of Hilary’s stature, reputation and sheer likability. She is a tier-one producer in a must-have market. Getting this done was a no-brainer.”
Bevan Jones added, “I´m delighted to be building this partnership with one of the most dynamic media groups in the industry. Red Arrow is perfectly placed to support our exciting and ambitious slate of projects in both film and television.”