All3Media-backed Story Films is developing a new four-part drama for “a major UK broadcaster”, exploring the notorious collapse of Barings Bank and the man at the centre of the scandal, trader Nick Leeson.
Tony Marchant is writing the scripts.
The Man Who Broke The Bank (w/t) is the latest true life drama from the Story Films stable, following recent series The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe for ITV which dramatised the story of infamous conman John Darwin and Deceit for Channel 4, based on the tragic case of the murder of Rachel Nickell.
Based on research from multiple books, archive and first person accounts, including recent dialogue with Leeson himself, The Man Who Broke the Bank charts the meteoric rise and fall of the plasterer’s son from Watford who secretly hid losses of more than £800m, leading to the collapse of one of Britain’s oldest merchant banks.
Bafta winner Tony Marchant’s writing credits span five decades from Raspberry for the BBC in 1984 and The Mark of Cain for Channel 4 in 2007 to Butterfly for ITV in 2018.
Story Films’ co-founder, Dave Nath, said: “Tony Marchant’s scripts tell a gripping tale of ‘90s hubris, of squandered talent, fear, fraud and disgrace. We couldn’t have hoped for a more talented writer to tell this incredible story in such a dramatic and nuanced way.”
Louise Pedersen, CEO of All3Media International, who will be distributing the series, said: “There is a great appetite in the global market for true crime dramas, particularly those that offer a fresh take on the true crime narrative. Most recently we’ve seen this with Story Films’ acclaimed series The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe so we’re delighted to have Story Films once again at the helm of this incredibly compelling, unique true crime story, which we feel sure will appeal to our international clients and their audiences .”
The Man Who Broke the Bank is written by Tony Marchant and executive produced by Story Films’ co-founder, Dave Nath. The broadcaster and casting information will be announced in due course.
Jon Creamer
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