SPT inks first-look deal with Emily Mortimer indie

Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola’s outfit King Bee Productions has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television.  

Under the agreement, the indie will develop and produce scripted TV content in various formats around the world for Sony’s International Production group and US studio. 

King Bee’s credits include two series of comedy series Doll & Em (HBO/Sky) and independent film To Dust. Along with Mortimer and Nivola, its team includes former IFC head of acquisitions Lizzie Nastro as head of film and television with former Vice scripted director Sam Schlaifler joining this year as vice president of development. 

Katherine Pope, president of US productions at SPT Studios, and Wayne Garvie, president of international production at the label, said: “We are incredibly excited to collaborate with the estimable talents of Emily, Alessandro, and their stellar team. Their creative and visionary storytelling approach, and their ability to develop a broad range of stories, resonates with what we love at SPT – great stories, bold ideas, brilliantly told.” 

Mortimer most recently starred in The New Look (Apple TV+) and will next be seen in Paddington in Peru. She also co-wrote and stars in Noah Baumbach’s upcoming Netflix film Untitled Noah Baumbach Feature.  

Nivola has just finished filming Downton Abbey 3. He will next appear on-screen in Sony/Marvel feature Kraven the Hunter and also features in Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door and alongside Adrien Brody in The Brutalist.  

Mortimer and Nivola said of the deal: “Sony is one of the most discerning and energised studios in the world and we feel our ambitions align perfectly with them. We are so excited to be working together.”