Banijay Rights Courts Marie Antoinette Stateside
Comments Off on Banijay Rights Courts Marie Antoinette StatesideBanijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay, today announces the pre-sale of new eight-part historical drama Marie Antoinette to PBS Distribution in the US, as MIPCOM 2022 gets under way. The series will have its North American premiere in Spring 2023.
Produced by Banijay Studios France, CAPA Drama and Les Gens, the acquisition marks the latest international deal for this CANAL+ Creation Originale and follows recent Banijay Rights pre-sales to UK public broadcaster BBC2 and BBC First in Australia.
Created and written by Deborah Davis (The Favourite), Marie Antoinette tells the story of the incredibly modern and avant-garde young queen, played by Emilia Schüle (Ku’damm 56/ 63). Joining Davis in writing the ambitious drama is Louise Ironside (The Split), Avril E. Russell (All on a Summer’s Day) and Chloë Moss (Run Sister Run). The series is directed by Pete Travis (Bloodlands) and Geoffrey Enthoven (Children of Love).
The latest agreement was negotiated by Matt Creasey, EVP Sales, Acquisitions and Co-productions, Banijay Rights, who said: “As MIPCOM gets started this week, I’m excited to announce PBS’ acquisition of Marie Antoinette, a visually stunning drama from the exceptional Deborah Davis that continues to generate a buzz worldwide. This epic series is one of the most complete accounts of the young queen to date and we’re pleased that audiences in the US will get to enjoy it soon.”
Germaine Sweet, Managing Director Content Acquisitions, PBS Distribution, added: “We are thrilled to bring the story of Marie Antionette to audiences in the US. This richly drawn period drama about the extraordinary young queen is sure to enthral PBS fans from the opening scene until the credits roll.”
Marie Antoinette is produced by Claude Chelli and Margaux Balsan for Capa Drama, Stéphanie Chartreux for Banijay Studios France, and Christophe Toulemonde for Les Gens. Filming took place in many prestigious historical places including the Châteaux of Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Lésigny, Champs, Voisins, and in the emblematic studios of Bry-sur-Marne.
Marie Antoinette was a young teenager when she left Austria to marry the Dauphin of France. Growing from a stubborn young princess navigating the rules of the French court under pressure to continue the Bourbon line, to a true fashion icon, she impressed with her natural charisma, and recreated life in Versailles in her image: free, independent and feminist ahead of time. Even with rumours undermining her reputation, the notorious figure would defeat the enemies of the Versailles court with courage and dignity.