ITV Studios has acquired a majority stake in Hartswood Films, the production company behind the Emmy-winning series “Sherlock.”
Founded in 1979, Hartswood is the U.K.’s longest-established scripted producer. Led by CEO Sue Vertue, Hartswood Films has created numerous notable series, including recent ITVX and ITV1 hit “Douglas Is Cancelled” and Prime Video’s “The Devil’s Hour.”
based in London and Cardiff, the company works with a roster of talent including writers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, and actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Stanley Tucci and Karen Gillan.
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Hartswood’s recent productions include “Dracula” and “Inside Man” for BBC and Netflix, as well as “Wolf” and “The Control Room” for BBC. Their flagship series “Sherlock” has been sold to over 200 territories worldwide.
ITV Studios will handle international distribution for future Hartswood Films commissions.
Julian Bellamy, managing director ITV Studios, said: “From ‘Men Behaving Badly’ to ‘Sherlock,’ ‘The Devil’s Hour’ to ‘Douglas is Cancelled,’ Hartswood Films has been a huge part of the TV landscape for decades. They have a hard won reputation for being brilliant producers of quality, ambitious and highly successful scripted television. I’m delighted to welcome them to ITV Studios.”
Sue Vertue, CEO Hartswood Films, added: “Hartswood are not known for making rash decisions and it’s taken us 40 years to make this one: we are delighted therefore to have chosen to team up with ITV Studios. We have always been open to investment if we could meet like-minded people who understood the need for independence which is at the ‘heart’ of Hartswood, while bringing us a whole new range of strengths and skills. We are a small company and have done very well on our own, but we couldn’t be more excited about a bigger future and what we can achieve together with ITV Studios.”
This acquisition furthers ITV’s strategy to expand its international content business. Hartswood Films joins other recent additions to the ITV Studios group, including Quay Street Productions, Happy Prince, Poison Pen Studios and Plimsoll Productions.
