Gaumont bows int'l TV arm

O'ConnellPARIS -- French mini-major Gaumont is stepping into international TV production and distribution with the launch of Gaumont Intl. Television, an L.A.-based indie studio. The company will head to Mipcom with two key projects, "Hannibal" and "Madame Tussaud.""Hannibal" is a 13-episode, one-hour drama series, written by Bryan Fuller ("Heroes"), who exec produces with Martha De Laurentiis ("Hannibal Rising").Skein centers on the early relationship between Dr. Hannibal Lector and his patient, a young FBI criminal profiler named Will Graham, who is haunted by his ability to empathize with serial killers. "Madame Tussaud" is a six-part miniseries penned by Michael Hirst ("The Tudors"). Hirst will exec produce along with former William Morris agent Alan Gasmer and Sherry Marsh.Based on Michelle Moran's book, the mini-skein chronicles the turbulent life of Marie Tussaud, a French artist and entrepreneur who lived through the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Gaumont Intl. Television, which will focus on the production of high-quality drama for the U.S. and international markets, is led by American TV veterans Katie O'Connell as CEO and Richard Frankie as chief operating officer. O'Connell and Frankie will have unique access to Gaumont's global sales force and large catalog to develop TV properties.O'Connell is the former exec VP of drama programming for NBC Entertainment. She previously worked as exec VP of development and current programming at Imagine Entertainment.Frankie most recently served as exec VP of business operations at Sony Pictures Television. Erik Pack will head the international sales and co-production division out of Gaumont's London office. Pack served as exec VP of international sales and co-productions at Power, the London-based production and distribution company. As a leading independent studio we are looking to build a company that is nimble, global and creative in this ever changing television landscape," said Gaumont's CEO Sidonie Dumas, and VP Christophe Riandee in a statement.O'Connell said the company aims at producing drama series, one or two high-end mini-series, and a handful of comedy series each year.The exec added both "Hannibal" and "Madame Tussaud" are at script stage. Financing for the company was structured by Evolution Media Capital, an investment banking firm for the entertainment and media industries. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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