Banijay UK has inked a strategic partnership with scripted production company Popcorn Storm Pictures, led by Tom Harper and Negeen Yazdi.
Founded by director Tom Harper (Wild Rose, War & Peace, Peaky Blinders) in 2018, the company’s credits include The Aeronauts (2019) starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones for Amazon Studios and Golden Globe nominated A Gentleman in Moscow (2023) starring Ewan McGregor for Paramount+.
The deal will see Harper and Yazdi develop premium scripted content with Banijay UK and its labels.
After their creation of the 2016 War & Peace miniseries for BBC, Harper and Yazdi’s long-running collaboration culminated in 2024, when Negeen joined Popcorn Storm as partner. Their slate at Popcorn Storm includes projects in development with the BBC, Peacock, Netflix and Amazon. With access to Banijay UK’s ‘Scripted Hub’, a network of support including business affairs, finance and production management, and the ability to co-produce with Banijay UK’s scripted labels, the partnership “will provide both strategic and practical support to enable Tom and Negeen to take the business to the next level.” The deal also includes a first look distribution agreement with Banijay Rights.
Patrick Holland, CEO Banijay UK said; “Tom and Negeen are formidable talents. I have had the pleasure of working with Tom on the upcoming Peaky Blinders film and he is a visionary director and he has a terrific partner in crime in Negeen. I’m thrilled they have chosen Banijay UK as their production partners and I’m confident that together we can supercharge their compelling creative vision.”
Tom Harper and Negeen Yazdi added: “We are delighted to find a home for Popcorn Storm at Banijay UK. Patrick and the team represent the best of British production: a powerhouse of media and entertainment, and a hub of like-minded individuals. Banijay truly understand the ethos of Popcorn Storm and share our ambition to bring powerful stories to a global audience in this exciting new chapter.”
Harper’s television credits include This is England ‘86 (2010), Peaky Blinders (2013), War & Peace (2016) which earned six BAFTA nominations, Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams (2017) and The Son (2017). Following his debut feature with frequent collaborator Jack Thorne, The Scouting Book for Boys (2009), his film credits include 10 times BIFA nominated Wild Rose (2018), The Aeronauts (2019) which premiered as Amazon Prime’s most-watched film of all time, and Netflix hit Heart of Stone (2019). He is currently in post-production on Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, starring Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth.
Before joining Popcorn Storm, Yazdi was SVP of Film Development & Production at Fifth Season during which time she oversaw the development and production of high-profile feature films including Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Academy Award nominee The Lost Daughter (2021), and the critically celebrated Flora and Son (2023). Previously she was President of International Production at The Weinstein Company and Director of Worldwide Acquisitions at Universal. Her credits also include Academy Award winner The Imitation Game (2014, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley), Lion (2016, starring Dev Patel), and Woman in Gold (2015, starring Helen Mirren).
The deal was negotiated for Popcorn Storm by Josh Varney at 42, UTA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole and Jacqueline Moreton for BUK.
Jon Creamer
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