Fremantle inks first-look deal with Edward Berger’s new label Nine Hours

Fremantle has secured a two-year, first-look deal with Nine Hours, the new production label set up by Oscar, BAFTA and Emmy-nominated director Edward Berger and partner Luke Rivett. The two-year deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for all of Nine Hours’ television projects as well as giving the global producer and distributor second look access to Berger’s new film pipeline.

Having just secured nine nominations for the 95th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and a record 14 BAFTA nominations for feature film “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Berger is the acclaimed director behind international hits such as “Patrick Melrose,” “Your Honor,” “The Terror” and Fremantle’s “Deutschland 83.”

The new partnership with Edward Berger was spearheaded by Fremantle’s Christian Vesper, who was recently promoted to CEO of Global Drama, and Seb Shorr, Executive Vice President of Commercial & Business Affairs. Lorenzo De Maio assisted on the deal.

"Great drama comes from filmmakers who have an undeniable urge to tell their story. We intend to find and nourish these filmmakers in their endeavors to bring their grounded, intelligent and cinematic vision to the screen. We could not have found a more exciting partner than Fremantle for this dream,”  Edward Berger said.

Christian Vesper, CEO of Global Drama at Fremantle, added: “We have long admired Edward’s talent and creative vision since working with him on the Emmy-nominated series ‘Deutschland 83.’ We are honored that he has chosen to partner with us as he launches his new label Nine Hours and at such a seminal moment in his career.”

The agreement with Berger’s Nine Hours is the latest creative partnership to be announced by Fremantle. The global producer’s first-look deals include partnerships with Angelina Jolie, Sinestra’s Johan Renck & Michael Parets, Nicholas Weinstock, Sarah Condon and the Larrain Brothers, as well as ongoing collaborations with acclaimed writers and directors including Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Sorrentino, Neil Cross, and Michael Winterbottom.