BBC Studios invests in Turbine Studios

BBC Studios, the main commercial arm of the BBC, has taken a minority investment in British premium scripted indie production company Turbine Studios, the company behind global hits such as Small Axe (BBC/Amazon), Munich: The Edge of War (Netflix) and Oscar® and BAFTA winning writer/director Steve McQueen’s Uprising.

Established in 2020 by Andrew Eaton, Tracey Scoffield, Justin Thomson and David Tanner, Turbine Studios is considered one of the most dynamic and entrepreneurial scripted production companies currently working in the UK. The team creates distinctive content that focuses on high quality returning drama for both UK broadcasters and global streaming platforms including the BBC, Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video. The company has already in its short history garnered a considerable number of awards for its productions, not least for Small Axe, which is the most BAFTA-nominated series ever. Uprising also won a BAFTA for Best Factual Series.

Their latest project, Constellation, an eight-part conspiracy-based, psychological thriller for Apple TV+ is written by Peter Harness and stars Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Prometheus) and Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul).

Mark Linsey, Managing Director Scripted, BBC Studios 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. Tom Manwaring of Helion Partners advised Turbine on the transaction.

Turbine Studios said: “We're proud to join this inspiring team and look forward to delivering on a slate of creatively original and ambitious projects using our extensive combined experience.”

Andrew Eaton Founder and Exec Producer

Andrew has produced numerous high-profile films such as Ron Howard’s Rush and BAFTA and Golden Bear winner In This World as well as The Crown for Netflix and Red Riding for Channel 4. In 2000, he won the Producer of the Year award at the British Independent Film Awards and in 2003, the Empire Independent Spirit Award. As part of Turbine, he produced Munich: Edge of War for Netflix, executive produced the upcoming Tom Hardy and Gareth Evans feature Havoc for Netflix, as well as the recent ITV show the Ipcress File for ITV and AMC. Most recently, he has put together a feature film based on Kevin Barry’s novel Night Boat to Tangier.

Tracey Scoffield Founder and Exec Producer

Tracey was an executive producer at BBC Films for ten years where she also ran the development team, identifying early talent such as Steven Knight’s Dirty Pretty Things. She left the BBC to set up Rainmark Films, which secured a first look deal with HBO, giving her experience in developing and producing high end television for both UK and North America. Tracey was the creative producer behind the global hit Small Axe and is the creative driving force (along with David Tanner) of Constellation, for Apple. Other credits include The Gathering Storm, The Mother and A Cock and Bull Story. Tracey has won numerous awards including an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA.

Justin Thomson Founder and Exec Producer

Justin is a film and television lawyer by training and as a Senior Business Affairs executive oversaw both the Channel 4 drama and Film Four slate before setting up, running, managing and successfully selling both Box TV and Artists Studio to trade buyers. He has experience in packaging and structuring high profile projects for the international market and recently executive produced Apple’s 6-part serial Liaison, starring Vincent Cassell and Eva Green, as well as helping put together the deal on Constellation for Turbine.

David Tanner Founder and Exec Producer

David’s past credits include producing the successful Netflix/ITV Sean Bean vehicle The Frankenstein Chronicles, and executive producing Small Axe alongside Tracey Scoffield. He is currently executive producing Constellation in Berlin, Germany for Apple. He has significant experience in managing large, complex international projects having worked on big budget studio features.

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