‘All Quiet On The Western Front’ director Edward Berger strikes Fremantle deal

All Quiet On The Western Front

All Quiet On The Western Front director Edward Berger has struck a two-year first-look deal with Fremantle.

The agreement is via Nine Hours, the recently launched production label set up by Berger and partner Luke Rivett (Berlin Station), with producer Jeanne Tremsal (So Long Daddy).

Fremantle will become the primary home for all TV projects from Nine Hours, while also gaining a second-look at Berger’s new film pipeline.

Berger has been behind series including Patrick Melrose, Your Honor, The Terror and Deutschland 83, as well as Netflix’s recently launched feature, All Quiet On The Western Front, which is based on Erich Maria Remarque’s novel.

The pact was struck with Fremantle’s Christian Vesper, who was recently promoted to CEO of global drama, and Seb Shorr, EVP of commercial & business affairs. Lorenzo De Maio assisted on the deal.

Berger said: “Great drama comes from filmmakers who have an undeniable urge to tell their story. We intend to find and nourish these filmmakers in their endeavors to bring their grounded, intelligent and cinematic vision to the screen.”

Vesper added: “We have long admired Edward’s talent and creative vision since working with him on the Emmy-nominated series Deutschland 83’. We are honoured that he has chosen to partner with us as he launches his new label Nine Hours and at such a seminal moment in his career.”

Fremantle already has first-look deals with Angelina Jolie, Sinestra’s Johan Renck & Michael Parets, Nicholas Weinstock, Sarah Condon and the Larrain Brothers, as well as ongoing collaborations with writers and directors including Luca Guadagnino, Paulo Sorrentino, Neil Cross, and Michael Winterbottom.

Its 2022 scripted slate included more than 100 drama series and 33 movies, while the company has also been expanding its M&A activity by taking majority stakes in Dancing Ledge Productions (The Responder), Element Pictures (Normal People), Lux Vide (Medici) and Richard Brown’s Passenger (This England).