Former Lionsgate Film Chief Patrick Wachsberger Sets Up TV Venture With ‘Marseille’ Producer Federation
EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Wachsberger, former Co-Chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group and the man behind the international success of features such as Twilight, La La Land and John Wick, is moving into TV after teaming with Marseille producer Federation Entertainment.
Wachsberger’s Picture Perfect Entertainment has entered into a joint venture with Pascal Breton and Lionel Uzan’s studio Federation to create Picture Perfect Federation. The company will develop and produce premium TV series for U.S. broadcasters and streaming service and international co-productions.
Related stories
'Hidden' U.S. Deal; Wiley Biopic; Federation/Anton Deal; Keshet Non-Scripted Hire - Global Briefs
“I’ve been really attracted by the quality of programming on television and decided that I wanted to get into it as well as movies. I really wanted to explore the possibilities of doing co-productions and looking at the world, not just the U.S. market,” Wachsberger told Deadline.
Picture Perfect Federation is on the brink of optioning a series of novels that will be one of its first development projects. Wachsberger said that he was currently putting together the team and is looking for office space. He will work closely with Federation’s LA-based Head of US Television Ashley Stern.
Wachsberger spent the last six years as Co-Chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, joining Lionsgate acquired Summit Entertainment in January 2012. During this time, he oversaw all aspects of the studios feature film acquisition, production and distribution and was responsible for leading the Company’s motion picture business around the world with other hits including Hacksaw Ridge, Now You See Me, Hitman’s Bodyguard and The Big Sick. While he didn’t have any involvement in Lionsgate’s television division, he regularly passed projects to Lionsgate Television Chairman Kevin Beggs.
The joint venture is the first project announced by Wachsberger since leaving Lionsgate. He will, however, continue to operate in the feature film space and said that he is expecting to begin three to four film projects this year and partner with other firms on these.
Federation boss Pascal Breton and Wachsberger have known each other for “quite a long time” and Breton said that it was a “natural” fit. “We are not the biggest position that Patrick could get but we are probably the most adventurous and fun”. “Patrick can bring a lot of great talent that he used to work with to the series business. He knows that we will bring a lot of know how and he can bring a lot of connections with talent.”
The deal is the latest U.S. move for Federation, which has been aggressively growing its business in Hollywood. The company is currently adapting Cristina Alger’s thriller The Banker’s Wife with Vikings and Pose EP Sherry Marsh, Gone Girl star Rosamund Pike, Lesli Linka Glatter (Twin Peaks) and showrunner Meredith Stiehm (Homeland), as well as setting up crime thriller Ibiza with Rampage writer Ryan Engle and Peter Landesman’s adaptation of Canal+’s Le Bureau des Légendes (The Bureau).
Wachsberger added that he was “energized” for the new role and was looking forward to getting going quickly. “I don’t want to waste any time, life is short,” he said.
Get more from Deadline.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
Solve the daily Crossword
