Broadcast
By Max Goldbart | 19 November 2019
Three Tables Productions was co-founded by former Leopard development head David Chikwe
Fremantle has struck a development deal with an emerging scripted indie as the pair works up an adaptation of Jamila Gavin’s The Robber Baron’s Daughter.
The super indie is working with Three Tables Productions, which counts September Films founder David Green as chair and has been founded by ex- Leopard Pictures head of development David Chikwe, former UK Film Council senior exec Himesh Kar and Mystical Productions founder J T Wong.
The Robber Baron’s Daughter will be adapted by its author Jamila Gavin with Picnic at Hanging Rock’s Beatrix Christian.
Fremantle creative director for global drama Christian Vesper is on board as executive producer.
The 2008 novel is a mystery thriller about a sheltered wealthy girl who disobeys her powerful father to investigate the disappearance of her tutor. As she digs deeper, she finds herself at the heart of a nefarious criminal underworld.
Wong said the series, which is not yet attached to a broadcaster, is testament to the new indie’s desire to “tell stories you can’t find anywhere else”.
He added: “That’s not just about finding great source material but also getting it out to the widest possible audience.
“Jamila Gavin wrote a page-turning thriller that was originally for younger readers, yet its themes are incredibly grown-up and relevant, making it perfect for adapting into a drama series.”
The indie was founded earlier this year by Wong and Chikwe, whose Leopard credits include CBBC sci-fi drama Eve and BBC1 daytime drama Missing,
and Kar, who selected and oversaw the production of Oscar-winning feature doc Man on Wire and Ken Loach’s The Wind That Shakes The Barley during his UK Film Council tenure.
Green, meanwhile, founded factual entertainment and docs indie September almost 30 years ago and went on to become chief executive and chairman of owner DCD Media.