EXCLUSIVE: In another reminder of the challenging climate for UK scripted producers, Watford & Essex has filed for closure after its joint-venture deal with Legendary Entertainment was not renewed.
The drama company was founded alongside Legendary in 2020 by Emma Frost and Matthew Graham, showrunners of Starz series The Spanish Princess, but did not have a greenlit series announced during its five years of trading.
Legendary ended its joint-venture agreement with Watford & Essex last year and the producer has in recent days appointed financial services firm Cork Gully to oversee a liquidation process.
Watch on Deadline
Legendary, the U.S. studio behind series including Dune: Prophecy, declined to comment. Reps for Frost and Graham have been contacted for comment.
When Watford & Essex announced its arrival in 2020, the producer said it was in development on 10 projects, including a remake of ABC’s 1960s TV series Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea.
Watford & Essex also optioned books including Kate MacDougall’s London’s Number One Dog Walking Agency and Jordan Stephens’ The Wolf You Feed: On Masculinity and Heartbreak.
Frost and Graham’s The Spanish Princess followed The White Princess and The White Queen. Frost’s other credits include penning the screenplay for Ron Howard’s Jennifer Lawrence movie Zelda, while she has worked on TV shows including The Man in the High Castle and The Tunnel. Graham co-created the iconic BBC series Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes.
Frost is repped by Curtis Brown. Graham is represented by Valerie Hoskins Associates.
The post Legendary Entertainment Ends Venture With Watford & Essex As UK Producer Files For Closure appeared first on Deadline.
