Fremantle Partners with Emma Stone and Dave McCary’s Fruit Tree
Fremantle has officially announced a significant partnership with the production company Fruit Tree, established by Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone and her director husband, Dave McCary. This collaboration provides Fremantle with a first-look and development deal, positioning the studio as the primary partner for all scripted television and unscripted docuseries produced by Fruit Tree.
Under this agreement, Fruit Tree will work closely with Fremantle’s Global Drama division and its international distribution team. This strategic alliance aims to broaden the range of projects available and to penetrate new international markets, enhancing the global appeal of Fruit Tree’s storytelling.
Upcoming Projects from Fruit Tree
Since its inception in 2020, Fruit Tree has already made a mark in the television landscape. Their initial television endeavors include The Curse, which features Stone alongside Benny Safdie and Nathan Fielder, as well as Fantasmas, starring Julio Torres. One of their anticipated projects is The Yogurt Shop Murders, a documentary series directed by Margaret Brown for HBO.
Diverse Film Portfolio
Fruit Tree’s film portfolio is equally impressive. Notable titles include Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, Julio Torres’ Problemista, and Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow. They are also set to release several upcoming films such as Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, which stars Stone, along with Focus Features‘s Checkmate, directed by Nathan Fielder. Additional projects include an untitled musical comedy by Eisenberg featuring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, as well as a feature film from McCary with Universal Pictures.
A Promising Collaboration
Emma Stone, Dave McCary, and producer Ali Herting expressed their enthusiasm about partnering with Fremantle. They stated, “We’re thrilled to join forces with the brilliant team at Fremantle, a studio that continues to be at the forefront of independent television with a deep commitment to inventive storytelling. We’re excited to build a creative home together and develop original narratives that challenge expectations and resonate with audiences worldwide.”
Key Players Behind the Deal
The development of this partnership was led by Christian Vesper, CEO of Global Drama and Film at Fremantle, alongside COO Seb Shorr and Lorenzo De Maio, president of De Maio Entertainment. The negotiation process involved Fran Denny (VP of Commercial Global Drama) and Jodie Rosello (EVP of Scripted Business & Legal Affairs) representing Fremantle, while PJ Shapiro of JSSK acted on behalf of Fruit Tree.
Vesper expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “I’m so thrilled to be welcoming Emma, Dave, and the whole team at Fruit Tree to the Fremantle fold. The combination of Emma’s indisputable talent and Dave’s sharp creative sensibility makes them a formidable team, and I look forward to pushing boundaries even further together.”