Fremantle Combines Scripted U.S./Europe Biz Under Christian Vesper

Fremantle is moving its North America scripted business under Christian Vesper, the CEO of global dram and film, who will now up all drama and film operations for Fremantle across both the U.S. and Europe.

As part of the shift, Dante Di Loreto — who served as Fremantle’s North America president of scripted entertainment since 2017 and helped built the banner’s drama slate (including the award-winning Showtime series “Fellow Travelers”) — will transition to a producer deal with Fremantle.

Fremantle’s North America scripted business and labels will now report directly to Vesper, who will continue to report to Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO Continental Europe. (Scrosati, in turn, reports to Fremantle group CEO Jennifer Mullin.)

The executive shuffle reflects an ongoing restructuring of Fremantle’s global business. In the U.K., the group recently laid off all the staff at drama producer Euston Films and documentary label Undeniable. The labels have not yet been technically shuttered, despite having no staff. When confirming the cuts, a Fremantle rep said they were “part of ongoing strategic planning” and “measures necessary for creating a more effective, coordinated and streamlined approach” to its business.

While it restructures its operations in Europe and in the U.S., Fremantle’s parent company RTL Group shot down rumors that it was planning to pull out of North America, as well as speculations that RTL Group’s shareholder Bertelsmann is exploring to sell some of its assets in Fremantle. Insiders stress that RTL Group and its majority shareholder Bertelsmann, is still looking to grow its U.S. presence.

“Expanding our global content business at Fremantle is one of RTL Group’s strategic priorities (…) and the U.S. is Fremantle’s largest market,” said a spokesperson for RTL Group. “As part of our strategic growth target to achieve Fremantle full-year revenue of €3 billion by 2026, Fremantle has grown organically and via acquisitions across all regions and genres – entertainment, drama & film and documentaries,” the spokesperson continued. Recent acquisitions of Fremantle in the U.S. include Eureka, Passenger and a 25% stake in Fabel Entertainment.

Vesper will now oversee a large portfolio of labels and talent, including Fremantle-owned labels Element Pictures, Miso Film, Passenger and Dancing Ledge. Also, companies and talent with first look deals with Fremantle include Kristen Stewart, Dylan Meyer and Maggie McLean’s Nevermind Pictures; Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín’s Fabula; Rachel Weisz and Polly Stokes’ Astral Projection; Edward Berger’s Nine Hours; Johan Renck and Michael Parets’ Sinestra; Sarah Condon’s Fair Harbour; Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar’s Me+You Productions; and Patrick Daly’s Caledonia Productions.

Filmmakers who have ongoing deals with Fremantle include Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Sorrentino, Angelina Jolie and Michael Winterbottom. 

Fremantle has been out in force in the fall festival circuit with Guadagnino’s “Queer” and Larraín’s “Maria,” both of which world premiered at the Venice Film Festival. “Queer,” starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, is also playing in Toronto, alongside Jolie’s directorial effort “Without Blood,” “M – Son of the Century” (which bowed at Venice), “Faithless” and “The Listeners.” “Queer,” “Maria” and “M” were produced by Wildside’s Lorenzo Mieli who exited the group earlier this year and just launched a new production vehicle, Our Films, with another FremantleMedia producer, Mario Gianani.

As for Di Loreto, who had reported to Mullin, his other recent output included Apple TV+’s “The Mosquito Coast” and Starz’s “American Gods.” Before Fremantle, he was a successful producer for HBO (“Temple Grandin,” “The Normal Heart”) and with Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “American Horror Story”).

The scripted changes have no impact on the unscripted side, where earlier this year Jimmy Fox joined Fremantle as executive vice president of unscripted development and sales for the company’s U.S. operations.