The heeled, Brad Pitt’s LA-based Plan B Entertainment of racing drama blockbuster “F1: The Movie” and the Emmy nomination limited series “Youth” have a flag planted in London. Ed MacDonald, the respected British producer of “Baby Reindeer,” has been running the flag of his descendants since 2022, part of Media One, a European powerhouse led by Pierre Antwee Inn Capton.
The London banner is the first international forward post of Plan B, an Oscar-winning company co-led by PITT, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. It is also part of a global strategy strengthened by Media One, a Paris Head Crawl powerhouse led by CEO Pierre-Antoine Capton, which makes up more than 80 production labels in 13 countries.
Seducing McDonald’s is a major coup for Plan B and Media One. He has been involved with Clerkenwell Films, where he worked for nearly 16 years, leading a series of hits, including Bafta Winning’s “The End of F***ing World” and the Emmy Award-winning Netflix global phenomenon “Baby Reinteer,” and also worked on adapting Nick Cave’s cult novel “The Dain of Bunny Munro.”
In Plan B Europe, McDonald’s will focus on developing television content in the UK and Europe, working closely with Plan B’s US-based television director Nina Woralski.
“I’ve loved my year at Claler Kenwell and I’m grateful for the friendship that I’ve falsified the work we’ve created together and is deeply proud of. But it’s a great excitement to see me join the Plan B family right now,” McDonald said.
He looks forward to “working with them to establish the company’s European division with support from Media One and its nurturing, a producer-led spirit,” and “looks forward to building on the legacy of Plan B and continuing to do what I love.”
The new European hub will also mark the next step in integrating Plan B’s continued growth, particularly in the UK and across Europe.
Plan B has already worked with Media One-owned companies or IPs on several projects, including Weekend Rebels, an Apple film starring Mark Wahlberg, adapted from the German film Weekend Warriors and developed by Weedemann & Berg, part of Media One’s Leonin Studios. Fanny Herrero, an adaptation of Sonia Kronlund’s series of books by showrunners of “The Man withhourth Faces,” “Call My Agent!”, Atlantique Productions, a subsidiary of Mediawan. And sets the world of adaptive sports for the US series of Media One’s hit show “Call My Agent!”
The new overseas forward post base also offers plan B more options to fund the project, taking advantage of the UK’s unique position as a bridge between the US and European industry and one of Europe’s most attractive hubs for film and television funding.
In a statement, Pitt, Gardner and Kleiner said they are “thrilled to expand the footprint of Plan B in Europe by carrying Ed MacDonald.”
“Based on our artistic ambitions, we are excited to deepen our commitment to premium television and explore new creative partnerships across the UK and Europe,” the trio said, adding, “With Ed’s exceptional track record and support from Media One Group, they look forward to captivating audiences around the world with their ambitious new series.”
Plan B has already enjoyed a strong relationship with Netflix, which collaborated with “adolescents,” but also with the BBC, which commissioned Raine Allen-Miller’s “The Roots Maneuver.” And in Film 4, ordered from Plan B’s Filippa Lowthorpe’s adaptation of “H is for the Hawk.”
Mediawan Pictures CEOs Capton and Elisabeth D’Arvieu said Plan B’s transatlantic movement underscores the “richness and dynamism of the French creative ecosystem – outstanding locations and robust financial support schemes.”
“These have enabled Media One to build an international studio from France to support talent and stories around the world. Today, the creation of Plan B Europe is a key milestone in its international growth strategy, further strengthening the Media One Group’s European DNA.”
An expansion of Plan B’s geographic footprint could inspire Media One and other outfits. Kapton told Variety that Media One is “keeping close attention to opportunities in all major markets.”
“Our talent shares an international outlook and strong curiosity to collaborate with other experts, IPs and formats,” Media One said, “fostering strong synergies across groups around the world, as they explore the potential expansions in which creativity flourishes.”
Although based in France, Media One has increased its presence in the English-speaking market for the past three years, with recent acquisitions such as Spring Hill of LeBron James and Maverick Carter, “The Fun” and “One Day” and “Super/Man: Missfett’s Entertainment” in the UK.
Plan B is tumbling down from “F1: The Movie.” It became Pitt’s and Apple’s best-selling film to date, winning over $613 million worldwide, and spurring a return to IMAX theatre last month. The company also produces ambitious director-led films such as Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice,” Ramel Ross’s Oscar nominated Nickel Boys, and Bong Jun-ho’s “Mickey 17.”
Plan B’s television productions have been praised especially as “puberty.” This is a Netflix miniseries created by Steve Glaham and Jack Thorne that collided with chords and won 13 Primetime Emmy Awards. “Three Body Issues” was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards. “LEGO Masters” series. documentaries such as “The Tropical Apocalypse” and “1-on-1” (through a joint venture with Oscar-winning film director Kevin McDonald). Plan B also made his Tony nominated theatrical debut for “Enemy of the People,” and recently won Audible audio success for “What Con Could Going.”
