Orchid Pictures, the production company founded by The Crown exec producer, Suzanne Mackie, is bolstering its team with a pair of senior hires.
Michael Casey, who joined the company earlier this year as Managing Director, and Gabriel Silver, who takes up the newly created position of Executive Producer starting this week. Under its exclusive deal with Netflix, Orchid Pictures is currently curating a slate of projects from emerging and established writers in the UK.
Michael Casey joined Orchid Pictures to lead the day-to-day management of the company alongside Mackie, following a 16 year tenure at Left Bank Pictures, where he latterly served as board member.
During Casey’s time at Sony-owned Left Bank Pictures, he produced more than 100 hours of programming for BBC, ITV, Sky, HBO and, most recently, Netflix – having served as Producer on The Crown from the first season through to its season six finale. Prior to this, he produced the Italian detective series Zen and 40 episodes of the international action hit Strike Back.
Silver joins Orchid Pictures from Tiger Aspect where he held the position of Creative Director since March 2023. Prior to this, he was Director of Commissioning, Drama, at Sky Studios where he oversaw a slate of Sky Original projects, including the multi-award winning Chernobyl, Gangs of London,COBRA, Britannia, The Lazarus Project, and I Hate Suzie.
The Orchid Pictures team also includes Development Producers Hannah Campbell and Sophie Loizou, alongside Development Assistant, Sam Spencer. The company’s current slate features the upcoming adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery starring BAFTA Rising Star Award winner Mia McKenna-Bruce (How to Have Sex). Currently in post-production, the three-part Netflix series is penned by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall (Doctor Who) and directed by Chris Sweeney (The Tourist).
Orchid Pictures continues to work with the creator of The Crown, Peter Morgan, and is currently in pre-production on his next project.
Suzanne Mackie, Founder and CEO at Orchid Pictures, said: “Orchid Pictures is built on an ethos of offering a home for the very best writing and creative talent, and we’re now assembling a top-class editorial and production team to take the company forward. After an intense and fruitful development period, with our brilliant producers Hannah and Sophie, it’s wonderful to feel that now is the right time for us to grow.
“Gabriel is a creative powerhouse who brings impeccable taste, sharply honed editorial skills and intuition, in addition to invaluable production and commissioning experience. With the arrival of Michael, an undeniable force in guiding world-leading productions, we’ve significantly expanded our strength and cemented our capacity to deliver the best working environment for our flourishing stable of writers.
“All of this has been made possible with the unstinting support of Anne Mensah and her terrific team at Netflix.”
Michael Casey added: “The opportunity to join Orchid was irresistible. Suzanne has a well-deserved reputation for taste and integrity that is best in class. Her focus on story and creative talent has created a company of real potential at a time when the resilience of producers is being thoroughly tested. I hope that I can help the Orchid team to build on their brilliant work to date and firmly establish it as one of the next great drama companies to emerge from these shores.”
Gabriel Silver added: “I’m delighted to be joining my old friends at an undeniably exciting moment. With Suzanne’s and Michael’s creative and strategic leadership, and a brilliantly talented team already building a very promising slate, I feel lucky to be part of Orchid’s blossoming story.”
Jon Creamer
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