For once, this is a deal, in which pretty much everybody wins.
Like something? Buy it. That’s ITV’s new mantra based on the fact that they bought something. Anyway, the channel have snapped up the Shaun of the Dead production company Big Talk for a cool £12.5m. Nice business.
It would be nice to tell you that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost built it from the ground, owned the whole thing and pocketed the lion’s share of that £12,5m, but they were only shareholders, and merely stand to gain a portion of that sum, as do BBC worldwide, who owned 25% of it.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Pegg and Frost, in fact there’s no doom or gloom whatsoever. Their latest film, The World’s End has been a hit with the critics and the pair are now at the top of the comedy ladder, so to speak. Big Talk was responsible for Friday Night Dinner, Rev and Him & Her, and will continue to put those shows out.
The new deal is designed to help the company grow internationally, especially in, you guessed it, the big old U S of A. ITV chief executive Adam Crozier said: "The acquisition of Big Talk represents another important milestone as we continue to grow our production base and invest in creative talent." Kenton Allen said: "After an amazing five years of very rapid growth we're delighted to have found a dynamic new partner to help us realise the untapped potential that exists at Big Talk."(The Independent)
Simon Pegg at the World's End premiere
It’s the year 2045 and the only way to survive on Earth is to escape...
After the release of The Force Awakens at the end of 2015, Disney and Lucas...
This is where the Star Trek franchise officially shifts from thoughtful drama into thunderous action....
When the Starship Enterprise finds itself under forceful attack, the crew on board fight to...
With its fifth feature-length adventure, this franchise continues its preposterous journey at full tilt. As...
Star Trek Beyond is the thirteenth film to be released from the Star Trek franchise...
Trekkies around the world rejoice! Star Trek Beyond will be upon us next year. The...
Most people are familiar with the big bang theory but not many people know just...
Appealing both to a new generation of viewers and fans of the series since the...
After the victory of the Rebel Alliance over the Galactic Empire and subsequent demolition of...
It's been thirty years since the Rebel Alliance; led by the noble Luke Skywalker, the...
Simon Pegg continues his rollercoaster career, alternating between superior blockbuster franchises (Mission: Impossible and Star...
If you read our story on Tom Cruise working with Simon Pegg on 'Mission: Impossible...
Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie brings a dark and gritty tone to this larger-than-life franchise. Along with...