All3 America unveils scripted arm

All3 America, the new US arm of UK producer All3Media, has opened a scripted division and has appointed a former exec from J.J. Abrams’ production company to helm it.

Eric Lehrman has been named senior VP, scripted television, and will seek to build on All3’s slate of scripted formats, which include UK scripts such as Shameless, Skins and Secret State. The US version of Skins on MTV sank after advertisers reacted to complaints over its graphic sex and drugs depictions, though Showtime’s Shameless has been more successful.

While at Bad Robot, Lehrman is credited with developing shows including Revolution for NBC and Person of Interest for CBS.

All3 America launched toward the end of last year, with Studio Lambert chiefs Stephen Lambert and Eli Holzman in charge. The move spelled the end of Studio Lambert USA, which was assimilated into the larger group after All3 exercised an option to buy the company.

“With Eric’s help we intend to focus on pairing exceptional material with the best talent in the business and bringing the All3Media reputation for quality, filmmaker-driven television to the United States,” said Lambert and Holzman in a statement.

Meanwhile, All3 has also signed a deal with producer Omid Kahangi to develop a slate of unscripted projects.