BBC Studios buys into ‘Small Axe’ prodco Turbine Studios, extending spending spree

Small Axe

BBC Studios (BBCS) has extended its spending spree by taking a minority stake in Small Axe producer, Turbine Studios.

The prodco, which has also been behind Munich: The Edge of War for Netflix and Steve McQueen’s Uprising, was launched in 2020 by Andrew Eaton, Tracey Scoffield, Justin Thomson and David Tanner.

Its latest project, Constellation, is an eight-part conspiracy-based, psychological thriller for Apple TV+. Peter Harness writes and Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad) star.

Mark Linsey, MD of scripted at BBCS, said: “Turbine Studios has an enviable reputation within our industry. Their focus on creating concept-led, franchise and premium thriller drama is matched by their ability to attract world-renowned talent from behind and in front of the camera.

“The team have an impressive slate of projects across both TV and film in the pipeline and exciting growth plans that our investment will help to deliver. We’re thrilled and excited to be partnering with them.”

The deal includes the German based sister company Turbine Studios GmbH, which is a co-venture between Turbine Studios, Daniel Hetzer and Matthias Braun.

Turbine Studios Germany specialises in original development and production services for the European market.

It is the latest deal in the red hot M&A market in the UK and another production addition for BBCS, which last month took full ownership of Inside The Factory outfit Voltage TV.

The organisation also recently took a 25% stake in Mothership Productions, the unscripted indie set up by former Channel 4 exec, Kelly Webb-Lamb.