Scripted
Finders Keepers
A Seven Seas Films production, in association with Quay Street Productions, Great Point Media, and ITV Studios.
A 4 x 60 minute drama for Channel 5.
Broadcast in the UK on C5 from Wednesday 17th January 2024 at 9pm, and available on My5.
Martin and Ashley, two detectorists in rural Somerset, stumble on a hoard of buried Saxon treasure worth millions. Legally, they should declare it. But if they sell it privately they could both be set for life.
Martin runs his own small engineering business and is a local history nut. Wheeler dealer Ashley is engaged to Martin’s daughter Laura. As you might expect, it’s Ashley who thinks they should look after number one and sell the hoard on the black market, straight arrow Martin who needs persuading. It’s incredibly tempting. For once life has dealt him a winning card. He’s worked hard all his life for little reward. Maybe this is his chance to get one over on the world?
Once Martin is persuaded to try and sell the hoard illegally, he ends up entangled with local bad lad Rocky - a man who turns out to be a lot more dangerous than he looks. He also unwittingly draws the attention of the Greater London Police.
As the pressure builds, Martin’s behaviour changes as the situation starts to spiral out of control. His wife Anne has met a new male friend at her weekly dancing class. Is Martin’s greed putting his precious marriage in jeopardy? Meanwhile daughter Laura is having doubts about committing to Ashley, and the tenacious DS Doyle draws ever nearer to the truth.
Martin knows he needs to return the hoard to the ground - it’s a curse, not a blessing – but is he already in too deep?
Driving Over Lemons
A celebrated and staple summer read for over two decades, which has sold over two million copies worldwide - is set for the screen, as the book goes into development as a returning comedy drama series. The adaptation will be a UK-Spanish co-production between Seven Seas Films, Tin Hat Film and TV Productions Ltd and La Pepa PC. The deal was brokered by Nick Leese.
The novel is written by author Chris Stewart, who at the age of 17 retired as drummer of Genesis and turned his back on rock n roll for a career as a sheep shearer and travel writer after moving to a remote mountain farm in Southern Spain with his wife.
Inspired by his family’s adventures, the drama follows Chris, a hapless optimist, and his pragmatic wife Ana, as the couple embark on a new life, uprooting from the UK and relocating to Andalusia, in an attempt to build a new life in the Alpujarra mountains. As idyllic as their remote, picturesque farmhouse El Valero might look, no running water is just the start of the challenges the couple will face, but no matter how tough things get, they never have to look far for oddball expats and friendly locals willing to lend a hand and offer advice. Chris and Ana’s sometimes comic adventures are set against a backdrop of the spectacular mountain scenery of Southern Spain, warmed both by the sun and the spirit of the local community.
Described by the Sunday Times as “A lyrical portrait of a couple integrating themselves into one of Europe’s most beautiful regions”, Driving Over Lemons is a funny, charming and at times dramatic story that shows the bravery and sometimes foolhardiness of a couple, as they embark on life changing adventures in Rural Spain.
Dan Sefton: “Chris’s book is utterly charming and filled with as much warmth as a summers’ day in Spain. The story intrigued us from the start - so many of us have daydreamed about uprooting our lives for sunnier climes, and his tales of the reality of doing this has provided the most brilliant story filled with humour, miscommunication, inspiration, challenges, and gratitude. And all set against the gorgeous Andalusian backdrop. I think audiences will fall for its charm, as much as we have.”
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe
Press Release
101 STUDIOS AND SEVEN SEAS FILMS PARTNER ON PROVOCATIVE MEMOIR REVEALING DETAILS FROM THE LAST DAYS OF MARILYN MONRO
First Ever Tell-All Authorized by the Marilyn Monroe Estate
LOS ANGELES / LONDON (January 5th, 2020) – 101 Studios and UK based production company Seven Seas Films announced today they have partnered to co-produce a new drama series The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, based on the non-fiction book “The Final Years of Marilyn Monroe: The Shocking True Story,” by Keith Badman (“The Beatles After the Break-Up”). The series details the turbulent final months of the star’s life before her death in 1962.
A co-production deal has been struck between Seven Seas Films and 101 Studios to develop the series; which is the first ever filmed project to be endorsed by Monroe’s estate. Seven Seas Films optioned the rights to the novel in 2017.
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe will be penned by writer and Seven Seas Films co-founder, Dan Sefton (The Mallorca Files, Delicious, The Good Karma Hospital) and will take a sympathetic and hard-hitting look at the star’s complicated yet explosive real-life story. The drama will take viewers back to a time when Monroe found herself caught between the warring factions of the Mafia, the Kennedy political dynasty and the Hollywood elite; including her dealings with the infamous Rat Pack and its member, the Englishman Peter Lawford.
Dan Sefton, writer and co-founder of Seven Seas Films said; “Many people think they know the truth about Marilyn Monroe’s final months, but it’s a complicated and tragic story; one which we want to depict with compassion and sensitivity. It’s fantastic to be partnering with 101 Studios and ABG on the next stage of development and we can’t wait to bring Marilyn to life.”
“Marilyn Monroe is an enigmatic icon whose multifaceted life continues to inspire and intrigue us,” said Katie Jones, VP of Brand at ABG. “She was a trailblazer who forged her own path, during a time when women’s voices were often ignored and silenced. It is the perfect time to tell her iconic story as the challenges she faced are still prevalent in women’s lives today.”
“Beloved movie legend, Marilyn Monroe, has had many memoirs created about her life, but none quite like this,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios. “Keith Badman has uncovered gems of never before released details, centered around the last few months of her sensationalized life and the accusations made. The series pays homage to the bright star whose life was extinguished too early.”
Dan Sefton will also be executive producing along with Simon Lupton through their company Seven Seas Films. Leif Cervantes de Reinstein from Sheppard Mullin handled the deal on behalf of 101 Studios.
About Seven Seas Films:
Seven Seas Films is a UK based production company, founded in 2016 by writer Dan Sefton (Delicious, Trust Me) and executive producer Simon Lupton (The Trip, Red Dwarf). Driven by a passion for great stories, the company is committed to developing and producing high quality scripted drama and comedy. Passionate about keeping creativity at the heart of the business, Seven Seas Films puts the writing talent it works at the core of the business; ensuring everything that the company develops and produces revolves around compelling stories.
Seven Seas Films has several projects in development in both the UK and US, including The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe with 101 Studios. Dan is also currently writing series two of The Good Karma Hospital for ITV and the second series of The Mallorca Files for BBC One. Simon recently produced the acclaimed documentary “The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story”, a co-production between Seven Seas Films and Miracle Productions for ABC in the US.
In 2019 the UK’s leading independent media and investment firm Great Point invested in Seven Seas Films, as part of its “enterprise investment scheme” fund, in a deal set up by Justin Thomson for DoveTale Media, who maintains a consultancy role with Seven Seas Films.
About 101 Studios:
101 Studios is a global entertainment company dedicated to the acquisition, financing, development, production and distribution of high-caliber, creator-driven storytelling. The studio empowers content creators through first-class collaboration and innovation. Inaugural release was Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s The Current War: Director’s Cut, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon. Upcoming releases include Sundance Audience award winner Burden featuring Forest Whitaker and Garrett Hedlund, the Russo Brothers acclaimed film Mosul and the French sensation La Belle Epoque. On the television side – 101 produces Taylor Sheridan’s hit series for Paramount Network Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner as well as Sheridan’s upcoming series Mayor of Kingstown.
About Authentic Brands Group:
Authentic Brands Group (ABG) is a brand development, marketing and entertainment company, which owns a portfolio of global media, entertainment and lifestyle brands. Headquartered in New York City, ABG elevates and builds the long-term value of more than 50 consumer brands and properties by partnering with best-in-class manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Its brands have a global retail footprint in more than 100,000 points of sale across the luxury, specialty, department store, mid-tier, mass and e-commerce channels and more than 5,000 freestanding stores and shop-in-shops around the world.
ABG is committed to transforming brands by delivering compelling product, content, business and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. ABG’s portfolio of iconic and world-renowned brands generates more than $10 billion in annual retail sales and includes Marilyn Monroe®, Mini Marilyn®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O'Neal®, Sports Illustrated®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Nautica®, Aéropostale®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Herve Leger®, Judith Leiber®, Barneys New York®, Frederick's of Hollywood®, Nine West®, Frye®, Jones New York®, Louise et Cie®, Sole Society®, Enzo Angiolini®, CC Corso Como®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Adrienne Vittadini®, Taryn Rose®, Bandolino®, Misook®, 1.STATE®, CeCe®, Chaus®, Spyder®, Tretorn®, Tapout®, Prince®, Volcom®, Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Above The Rim®, Hind®, Thomasville®, Drexel® and Henredon®.
For more information, visit authenticbrandsgroup.com
About Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe is one of the most influential pop culture icons of all time. A true trailblazer, Monroe forged her own path, embracing her individuality and pursuing her passions in an era when paths for women were few. Her pioneering spirit, independence and confidence, along with her incomparable star power, continue to inspire modern generations and transcend cultures and backgrounds. Partnerships with both luxury and mass-consumer brands, in addition to an extensive merchandising program, reinforce her status as a global icon.
For more information and exclusive updates, follow @marilynmonroe on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat.
For further information please contact:
Natasha Roberts
PREMIER
natasha.roberts@premiercomms.com | +44 207 292 5094
Heather Johnson Phillips
101 Studios
424. 388. 0914
Michelle Ciciyasvili
Authentic Brands Group/The Estate of Marilyn Monroe
646.380.5836
Francesca Cascardo
Authentic Brands Group/The Estate of Marilyn Monroe
347.318.4950