BBC Studios secures development deal with Ascendant Fox

BBC Studios has sealed a development deal with Ascendant Fox, the production outfit behind the hugely successful and multi-award winning, "Boiling Point" film, forthcoming Gassed Up and the BBC One and BBC iPlayer "Boiling Point" TV series starring Vinette Robinson and Stephen Graham. “With such an exciting, diverse slate of film and TV projects in development, we feel honored to have been approached by BBC Studios to help bring them from script to screen," Ascendant Fox’s Partners and Executive Producers, Hester Ruoff and Bart Ruspoli said.

The deal sees an investment in the Ascendant Fox’s development slate and also gives BBC Studios a first look agreement on distribution rights on projects. In correlation with the deal, Ascendant Fox is also announcing two new hires: Hannah Perks, Netflix’s former Head of Film Acquisitions and Co-productions for the UK and EMEA joins as Head of Development. While at Netflix, Perks commissioned hits such as "Bank of Dave" and "Inside Man," the latter was a co-commission and co-production with the BBC, as well as acquiring the breakout hit film Boiling Point. She has over a decade’s experience in the film and television industry and previously held positions at Lionsgate, Channel4 and Aardman Animations.

This deal follows the development agreement BBC Studios sealed in May 2023 with the producers of BAFTA award-winning Mood, Bondafide Films and in March 2023 with Rebel Rebel Pictures, the new primetime entertainment and factual entertainment indie from Simon Shalgosky and Daniel Brookes. "Caroline Stone, Mark Linsey. Kate Woods and their team have been a huge support for our debut television series 'Boiling Point' and we can’t wait to share news on our next productions," Ruoff and Ruspoli said. "In addition, we are absolutely delighted to have Hannah Perks and Victoria Zalin join our team bringing with them a wealth of experience in both film and television production.”

Victoria Zalin joins Ascendant Fox as its new Head of Production. Zalin has extensive experience working in film and television production including "Paddington 2," "Morbius," "My Cousin Rachel," "Far From The Madding Crowd" and "A United Kingdom" and TV productions such as Atlanta and Watchmen. Ruoff and Ruspoli,  both award-winning producers, merged their companies in 2022 to become Ascendant Fox following the runaway success of the Boiling Point movie which has amassed over 30 award nominations and 9 wins. “Ascendant Fox is committed to delivering quality projects, that shine a spotlight on today’s complex society. We are passionate about supporting new talent and creating a platform where important stories are given the voice they deserve.”

Ruoff, executive produced Bafta-winning film "Convenience," starring Ray Panthaki, Adeel Akhtar, Anthony Head, Verne Troyer and Vicky McClure. In 2017 she joined forces with Line Producer Laureline Garcia to produce short film Gerry, a coming-of-age film for a woman in her 80’s starring Joan Collins as the lonely widow Hilda. Ruspoli set up Ascendant Films in 2017 and his first feature Nightshooters (2018) was selected for Raindance, Leeds and Mayhem Festivals in 2019. He produced Villain (2020) starring Craig Fairbrass, Eloise Lovell Anderson, Robert Glenister and Izuka Hoyle. “Hester Ruoff and Bart Ruspoli are exceptional talent with a strong development slate and we’re delighted to be backing them in bringing more powerful, distinctive stories to the screen," Caroline Stone, Commercial Director of Scripted, BBC Studios said.