The Weinstein Company will distribute Julian Fellowes’ drama series Doctor Thorne
Hat Trick International has licensed the new primetime mini-series Doctor Thorne to The Weinstein Company for the U.S. and Canada ahead of the drama’s launch at MIPCOM 2015. The three-episode one-hour period drama, based on the renowned novel by Anthony Trollope and adapted for television by Academy and Primetime Emmy award-winning Julian Fellowes (“Downton Abbey,” Gosford Park), will be executive produced by Harvey and Bob Weinstein alongside Hat Trick’s Head of Drama Mark Redhead (“Critical,” “The Suspicions of Mr Whicher”) and Fellowes with Chris Kelly and Ted Childs.
Doctor Thorne is a tale of envy, lust and greed, of arrogance and vanity and false values – but mainly, hopefully, of love. Tom Hollander (“Rev,” “Any Human Heart”), Ian McShane (“Ray Donovan,” “The Pillars of the Earth”), Alison Brie (“Mad Men,” “Community”) and Rebecca Front (“Humans,” “Lewis”) will star alongside a large cast of well-known actors.
TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein commented: “It’s a tremendous thrill to be a part of Julian Fellowes’ first television outing since ‘Downton Abbey,’ a series we were all such immense fans of. With a script as extremely witty, brilliant, and appealing as this one is, I’m certain ‘Doctor Thorne’ will replicate the passionate fan base and ratings power of ‘Downton Abbey.'”
Sarah Tong, Director of Sales at Hat Trick International, adds: “We are very pleased to launch Hat Trick International’s move into scripted distribution with a drama that has such an immaculate pedigree. ‘Doctor Thorne’ has all the attributes to become one of the standout dramas of 2015. With stellar talent both in front of and behind the camera, each of whom has a great passion for the character-driven and compelling storytelling of Anthony Trollope, we are certain that there will be strong interest from international buyers.”
The drama centers on the story of Dr Thorne (Hollander), a gentleman doctor living in the village of Greshamsbury with his beautiful niece, Mary. A girl blessed with every gift except money, Mary has grown up alongside the Gresham sisters and their handsome brother – whose home is the great house and estate at Greshamsbury Park.
When the terrifying Lady Arabella Gresham (Front) discovers that her darling son has fallen in love with Dr Thorne’s penniless niece, she is horrified. Her husband has frittered away the family fortune and is only being kept afloat by very favorable loans from railway millionaire Sir Roger Scatcherd (McShane). However, Sir Roger is drinking himself into an early grave and the financial future is uncertain. Believing it is her son’s duty to make a rich marriage to save the family estate, Lady Arabella launches a campaign to secure her son an heiress for a bride.
Doctor Thorne is produced by Hat Trick Productions for ITV. The deal for the series was negotiated by Paul Cohen at Hat Trick with Robert Walak and Michal Podell Steinberg on behalf of TWC. Production will be overseen by Walak and Negeen Yazdi in London and Melissa Wells in New York.
(Photo credit: WENN)
