British-Australian production powerhouse See-Saw Films has been bought by France’s Mediawan.
The growing entertainment outfit, which also owns Brad Pitt’s Plan B, has taken a 51% majority in See-Saw, which makes the likes of Heartstopper, Slow Horses, Apple Cider Vinegar, The Power of the Dog and One Life.
See-Saw has been up for sale since last year and has been the source of much speculation in M&A circles, with ACF investment bank conducting the sales process.
See-Saw has headquarters in the UK and Australia and has been on a hot streak in recent years. The studio was launched by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman back in 2008. Helen Gregory and Simon Gillis now lead day-to-day operations as Joint Managing Directors. The company last year launched a joint venture, Fanboy, with Heartstoppper executive producer Patrick Walters. Sweetpea, Kirstie Swain’s adaptation of CJ Skuse’s darkly comic novel, was its first production.
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“We are delighted to welcome See-Saw Films to the Mediawan family. Under Iain and Emile’s leadership, See-Saw has become one of the most prestigious, innovative, and critically acclaimed production companies,” said Pierre-Antoine Capton, Co-founder and CEO of The Mediawan Group and Elisabeth d’Arvieu, CEO of Mediawan Pictures. “Through this new partnership, Mediawan reinforces its commitment to bringing together the finest talent behind exceptional and impactful content while providing an even more compelling platform for top creative talent worldwide.”
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Launched a decade ago, Mediawan also owns Drama Republic (The English, The Lovers, One Day), Misfits Entertainment (Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, Rising Phoenix, McQueen) and animation specialist Wildseed Studios, along with Plan B, which it picked up in late 2022.
See-Saw’s Co-founders said: “As we celebrate See-Saw’s 18th year, we are thrilled to be entering into this partnership with Mediawan, the extraordinary global powerhouse that Pierre-Antoine and his team have created. This union reflects a shared vision for growth, creative excellence and independence. It will enable us to take our ambitions to new heights and provide us with greater resources for our team and the exceptional talent we work with, as we continue to bring bold, impactful stories to global audiences.”