Lionsgate buys into UK indie Potboiler

North America’s Lionsgate has bought into another UK prodco, this time taking a stake in film and television firm Potboiler Productions.

The indie is run by Andrea Calderwood (Generation Kill, The Last King of Scotland) and Gail Egan (The Constant Gardener), and Lionsgate UK has taken an unspecified equity stake in its fledgling TV drama division, Potboiler Television.

Lionsgate and the film side of Potboiler have worked together on several features including Alan Rickman’s A Little Chaos, the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s A Most Wanted Man, and upcoming Michael Fassbender movie Trespass Against Us.

The TV deal, which was brought to Lionsgate by consultant and producer Marc Lorber, will see Lionsgate help Potboiler expand its high-end drama series activity, and it will distribute any series it gets away internationally.

“Lionsgate UK has a reputation for boldly supporting British product and talent, investing more in its home territory than any other distributor,” said Zygi Kamasa (pictured), CEO of Lionsgate’s European office.

“This partnership with Andrea and Gail, two renowned film and television producers, and the Potboiler team deepens that commitment and extends both companies’ diversification into scripted television product created for a global audience.”

Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs added: “Potboiler is an acclaimed film brand now bringing its focus to thought-provoking and entertaining television dramas with world-class talent.

“This deal is a perfect example of the building blocks Zygi Kamasa and his team are assembling as they develop a robust television business alongside their premier film brand.”

Calderwood and Egan said in a statement: “Lionsgate and Potboiler have similar entrepreneurial cultures and a shared vision of the opportunities that lie ahead of us in reaching a global television audience.”

The UK arm of independent US studio Lionsgate has been scaling up, buying into Primal Media and Kindle Entertainment, the latter as first reported by TBI.

Lionsgate UK is growing its TV business, recently bringing in former ITV drama boss Steve November as its creative director. In the US, the company has just finalised the acquisition of premium cable business Starz.