Studiocanal named Paul Gilbert SVP of English-Language Series

Studiocanal has announced the appointment of Paul Gilbert as Senior Vice President of English-Language Series. Based in London, Gilbert will report to M-K Kennedy, Managing Director of Television.

Under Kennedy’s leadership, Gilbert will drive the development and production of a bold slate of premium UK and US series through Studiocanal’s recently launched in-house production arm. He will also work closely with Studiocanal’s portfolio of production companies, including Urban Myth Films, The Picture Company, SunnyMarch, Strong Film & TV, Birdie Pictures, and the recently announced Brock Media.

Gilbert is currently executive producing Studiocanal’s upcoming political thriller "Army of Shadows", commissioned by Channel 4 and CANAL+ and written by Ronan Bennett. He is also overseeing "Apollo Has Fallen", now in production. The series marks the second installment in the globally successful CANAL+-commissioned "Has Fallen" franchise.

Previously, Gilbert was Commissioning Editor for Sky Studios, where he executive produced series including Joe Barton’s BAFTA-winning "The Lazarus Project", the upcoming mini-series "Amadeus", as well as "A Town Called Malice", "Tin Star", and "The Fear Index". Before that, he produced Mike Bartlett’s "Press" for the BBC and Masterpiece, and "Humans" for Channel 4 and AMC. He also served as Head of Drama Development at Big Talk Productions and as an in-house Development Producer at BBC Drama Production and BBC Drama Northern Ireland.

M-K Kennedy, Managing Director of Studiocanal Television, praised the exec: "I am delighted that Paul has joined us. His outstanding taste, sharp story instincts, and deep relationships in the UK creative community make him an invaluable addition to our team. He will play a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of our English-language production arm and will provide thought-partnership and support for the producers under the STUDIOCANAL umbrella," commented.

Meanwhile, Paul Gilbert added: ‘Studiocanal is synonymous with world-class storytelling, so joining at such a pivotal moment in its evolution is a privilege. With a growing global appetite for daring, premium English-language TV series, the opportunity to harness that demand through STUDIOCANAL’s unrivalled reputation—and ability to self-produce and finance—is irresistible. We want to be a powerhouse of audacious ideas, empowering the best writers, directors, and producers to deliver the kind of series that audiences everywhere want to watch and talk about.’

Currently in development for Studiocanal are Ronan Bennett’s "Army of Shadows" (Channel 4), with cameras rolling on "Apollo Has Fallen" (Prime UK), and "Hit Point", now in pre-production for UKTV.