EXCLUSIVE: AGC Studios chief Stuart Ford, Anton CEO Sébastien Raybaud, and Fremantle’s CEO Global Drama and Film, Christian Vesper, stopped by Deadline’s Zurich Summit studio in recent days to discuss the business and what’s coming up for their ambitious companies.
The three executives began by laying out what the priorities are going forward for their respective firms, with Fremantle noting that the company’s surge into feature film could continue given the broader remit for growth at the studio.
Stuart Ford of AGC discussed the prospects of a second season of the mega-budget Roland Emmerich swords and sandals drama Those About To Die, which Ford described as a “gargantuan undertaking”: “We’re working on a story and season outline for what we hope will be a season two next year”. Ford confirmed that Emmerich was “energised” about a second go round for the show.
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Raybaud gave an update on the status of their Gerard Butler action sequel Greenland 2: “We wrapped in July and I saw a first cut this past week, which is great. It’s a great achievement for the filmmakers involved. It’s a $90M film and exactly the type we want to see more of in Europe.”
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Asked whether there could be a Greenland 3, Raybaud teased: “We’re thinking about what could happen afterwards. There’s something that happens in 2 that could be tricky, but I’m sure we can find a way…”
Discussing the awards potential for Fremantle charges Maria and Queer, Vesper noted: “We’re very hopeful. We have high hopes for Luca [Guadagnino] and Pablo [Larraín] and Daniel [Craig] and Angelina [Jolie]. But the rest too. Ed Lachman shot Maria beautifully, Lesley Manville is a standout in Queer in a way people weren’t expecting, and Drew Starkey is a great young actor.”
The three executives rounded out the chat by highlighting a film or TV series they’ve watched recently that blew them away.
Check out the video above.