ITV Heads For ‘The Summit’; ‘Bluey’ Guests On ‘Strictly’; Max Expands Euro Rollout; New Pictures Hires; ‘Costa Rican Summer’ Lands Deal — Global Briefs

Jesse Whittock and Zac Ntim
·4-min read

ITV Heads For ‘The Summit’

UK network ITV has ordered a local version of Banijay’s adventure reality series The Summit and will launch. a local version in 2025. Shine TV, part of Banijay UK, will produce the show, in which 14 strangers from all walks of life attempt to clip the rugged Alps of New Zealand’s South Island. The winner gets a prize of £200,000 ($258,000). Another Banijay label, Endemol Shine Australia, created the original version for Nine Network. Ben Shepherd will host the British version, which comes after commissions in Europe and the U.S., where a CBS version launched in late September. Paul Mortimer, ITV Director of Reality Commissioning and Acquisitions, and Amanda Stavri, ITV Commissioning Editor, Reality, ordered the show, which Matt Bennett and Mandy Morris will executive-produce. Mortimer said: “Not only is this a huge and complex endurance test for the contestants, overseen by the wonderful Ben Shephard, it’s going to be an absolute nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat watch for viewers at home. Filled with cliffhangers, shocks, twists and turns it’s going to keep people guessing from the very first step of the trek to that final summit.” The show will air on ITV1, streamer ITVX across the UK and STV and STV in Scotland next year.

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Max Expands Euro Rollout With Prime Video Deal

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD)’s streaming services will launch an add-on subscriptions in Sweden and the Netherlands today. Max will be added in Sweden, while in the Netherlands, where WBD hasn’t yet switched to new branding, HBO Max is launching. The news comes as WBD continues to roll out the Max brand globally, with several Asian countries set to get it before the end of the month, and just six days before Dune: Prophecy launches on Sunday (November 17). Amazon already offers Max as an add-on in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, France and Spain. The service provides access to shows such as The Penguin, House of The Dragon and The Last of Us, and films including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Dune: Part Two, Godzilla x Kong, Wonka and Barbie.

‘Bluey’ Set For Guest Dance On ‘Strictly’

Everyone’s favorite blue heeler pup is to sashay on to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom floor. Bluey, who stars in the kids show of the same name, will shake her tail in the latest BBC Children in Need charity telethon alongside professional Strictly dancers Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe and Michelle Tsiakkas in a playful routine that will include easy moves that children can perform at home. The stunt is being pulled on Friday evening (November 15) when the show plays live on BBC One. A behind-the-scenes glimpse of Bluey’s performance will be seen on Thursday during Strictly companion show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. Ade Adepitan, Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay, Chris Ramsey and Lenny Rush are presenting the show. Disney+ show Bluey is currently one of the most watched shows in the U.S. and around the world. In the UK, it is on the BBC, which finances production, while in its home territory of Australia, it airs on the ABC.

‘The Long Shadow’ Maker New Pictures Hires Trio

New Pictures, the All3Media-owned indie behind The Long Shadow and Dalgliesh, has made a trio of hires. Clare Batty joins as Tod Productions as Head of Development, having worked on developing shows such as Criminal Record for Apple TV+. She has also worked at The Split producers Sister and Little Chick and Sherwood maker House Productions. Emma Parsons is joining as a production executive and another Sister exec, Brendan Fairweather, has joined as Senior Legal Affairs Executive. Fairweather has also held roles at Fifty Fathoms, Tiger Aspect and Pact. New Pictures slate includes ITV crime drama The Long Shadow, the BBC and Netflix’s Champion and Paramount+’s No Escape alongside returners such as Dalgliesh and upcoming shows such as ITV’s Protection and the BBC’s Crongton.

‘Costa Rican Summer’ Lands Deal — AFM

Eclipse International has sold Costa Rican Summer to MVD Entertainment. The film follows a down-on-his-luck, booze-soaked surfer who relies on his imaginary dreamgirl for guidance and moral support as he stumbles through life and attempts to win a major surf competition and the real girl of his dreams. Pamela Anderson has a cameo in the film. Costa Rican Summer is set for a North American release in 2025. Negotiations were handled by Eric Wilkinson of MVD and Reiko Bradley of Eclipse International. Eclipse has also picked up international sales rights to the comedy Who Invited Charlie? starring Jordana Brewster, Reid Scott, and Adam Pally.

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