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MUMBAI:
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), the commercial and brand
extension arm of television format creator and distributor
FremantleMedia, has acquired rights to adapt the French supernatural
thriller series 'Les Revenants' for the English language.
The English adaptation, 'They Came Back' (working title),
will be produced by writer, creator and producer Paul Abbott
and his company AbbottVision, with which FME has a first look
deal.
Originally
developed as a feature film, 'Les Revenants' was adapted for
TV by producers Haut et Court for the French pay TV channel
Canal+. The series launched in Autumn 2012, attracting a sizable
audience averaging 1.4 million viewers across eight one hour
episodes. It is the most-watched Canal+ original series. FME
will distribute the English adaptation internationally.
'Les
Revenants' tells the story of a group of men and women in
a small Alpine village in the shadow of a vast dam, who find
themselves in a state of confusion, trying to return to their
homes. What they do not yet know is that they have been dead
for several years, and no-one is expecting them back.
FME
CEO David Ellender said, " 'They Came Back' has all the
hallmarks of a successful international drama - a compelling
concept, proven track record, some of the world's most talented
producers and a committed distributor. We await the final
product of this exciting project with great anticipation."
AbbottVision
founder Paul Abbott said, "The scripts are a fantastic
distillation of the emotional content honed from the film
and crafted into a five star TV series, with highly rewarding
expansion, suspense and depth."
AbbottVision
executive producer Martin Carr said, "We are very excited
to be able to take They Came Back into production. There has
been fierce international interest in the format and we are
very fortunate to have been able to forge a relationship with
Haut et Court through FME to take the series and remake it.
It is a perfect fit for the AbbottVision brand."
Haut
et Court producers Caroline Benjo and Jimmy Desmarais said,
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Paul Abbott on board,
as he is one of the most idiosyncratic and original writers
and we dreamt of being associated with him one day."
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