Los Angeles-based international entertainment studio MFF&Co and Brazilian television giant Globo, creators of the Oscar-winning film “I’m Still Here,” have tapped American authors Alexander Maggio, Jenny Lin and Ted Sullivan to adapt three of Globo’s telenovelas for North American audiences.
The joint venture between MFF & Co and Globo will see the writers reimagine the original story in a traditional multi-season format in English and the United States, MFF & Co and Globo said in August when they announced the groundbreaking joint venture.
Scheduled to be announced at Globo’s showcase at Content Americas on Tuesday, the deal with Maggio, Lin and Sullivan will see three experienced writers who have worked on high-profile American series take on the challenge of how to incorporate the melodramatic essence of Globo’s telenovelas into a new narrative structure.
MFF&Co and Globo report that Maggio, who has a strong penchant for high-stakes political and procedural dramas as a screenwriter for “Homeland: Aftermath,” a screenwriter and executive story editor for “Madam Secretary,” and a screenwriter for “FBI,” is planning a North American remake of 2015 International Film Award-winning “Empire” (2014-15). Winner of the Emmy Award for Best Telenovela, this story follows a heartbroken and power-obsessed billionaire as he fights to maintain control of his jewel empire.
Lin (“Mayans MC,” “Marvel’s Iron Fist,” “Arrow”) is set to revive the international hit “The Other Side of Paradise” (“O Outro Lado do Paraíso” (2017-18)), which was licensed to 85 countries. This is a revenge story about a young woman who is sent to a psychiatric ward by her stepmother and returns several years later to pay the bills.
Meanwhile, Ted Sullivan, whose screenwriting career includes Riverdale, Star Trek: Discovery, Pure Genius and Supergirl, will adapt King of the Cattle (1996-97), an epic tale of love across railroad tracks set during World War II and then jumping to 1996 to depict a decades-long land dispute between two rival immigrant families.
“This is a pivotal moment for our project and our partnership with Globo. These accomplished writers are well-equipped to transform an audience-proven Brazilian story into a series that truly resonates with a global audience.” “Globo’s telenovelas have always caught the cultural pulse of the moment and reflected the depth of human emotion. Our creative challenge is to reimagine it while preserving the intensity of that emotion,” said Estella Renner, CO showrunner, director, co-founder and chief creative officer. We bring these stories to North American audiences through a contemporary lens. ”
Angela Colla, head of international business and co-production at Globo, said: The next phase of our partnership with CO represents a significant evolution in the way we bring Globo’s stories to the world. Having such accomplished writers on board with these projects strengthens the strength, relevance and adaptability of our content. These stories have already proven their emotional power to millions of viewers, and we are confident they will resonate just as deeply when reimagined for new audiences.”
MFF & Miura Kite, president of global content at CO, said: “The collaboration of these talented screenwriters brings the tested creativity behind this lithograph’s ambitions.Each writer brings a unique auteuristic voice and deep experience to this high-impact serial storytelling. “Kill will leverage the DNA of Brazilian telenovelas into a premium multi-season series for the U.S. market. We are building a show with rich emotional stakes, complex characters and addictive storylines designed to compete at the highest level.” World TV level. ”
Other standout titles include Globo’s smash hit Bellissima (2005-2006), directed by Silvio Abreu, which had a viewership rating of 48%, and the recent All the Flowers by João Emmanuel Carneiro, creator of Globo’s biggest telenovela of our time, Brazil Avenue.
Development of each telenovela film adaptation will continue to be led by Mr. Kite, who was Participant’s vice president of global television.
