Fifth Season, the film and TV production and distribution group behind Apple TV hit Severance, has acquired UK independent producer Story Collective.
Fifth Season backed Story Collective, whose credits include Disney+’s A Thousand Blows, with a minority investment when it launched in 2021.
.jpeg)
As part of the deal, Co-Founder Damian Keogh will remain as CEO of The Story Collective. He will also join Fifth Season as Senior Vice President (SVP) and Managing Director of the International Scripted department.
Story Collective Co-Founder Simon Vaughan is to step down from the company to launch a new indie, named Storyworks, which already has a first-look deal in place with Fifth Season. Co-Founder Helen Jackson also plans to step down from the company.
The Story Collective has built a series of creative partnerships since its launch, including Tom Davis’ and James de Frond’s Mighty Pebble Pictures and Ben Donald’s Cosmopolitan Pictures.
Graham Taylor, CEO of Fifth Season, said: “The Story Collective was built by Damian, Simon, and Helen on an ethos of creative collaboration, which we backed and have admired from its inception – and it feels like a natural evolution to be consolidating in this way four years later, as we double down on our ambitions as a UK studio. Fifth Season’s offering now has even greater firepower, and an undeniable nexus of talent connections and projects to put our weight behind.”
The Story Collective’s projects – which will now sit under the Fifth Season’s UK studio arm – include shows in development at Apple, BBC, Sky, Netflix, Channel 4, Britbox, and Sky Showtime.
Four top media analysts recently named collaboration and consolidation as one of their top trends to watch in 2026. Discover more here.
Disney and TikTok strike short form content deal
The Walt Disney Company and TikTok have agreed a deal allowing creators to use clips from Disney films and series in their short videos.
.jpg)
EIT Culture & Creativity seeks audiovisual and gaming experts ahead of IBC2026
EIT Culture & Creativity has opened an expression of interest inviting experienced investors, entrepreneurs, and startup specialists to join its pool of expert evaluators and mentors, with opportunities for professionals working in the audiovisual and gaming sectors.
.jpg)
Disney sells A+E Global Media stake for US$1.2bn
Hearst has revealed that it will officially acquire Disney’s 50% interest in A+E Global Media for approximately US$1.2bn in cash.
Fremantle appoints Katie O’Connell Marsh as CEO of Global Scripted Hub
Global production and distribution group Fremantle has named Katie O’Connell Marsh as the CEO of its new London-based Global Scripted Hub.
British Film Commission designates West Midlands as key film and TV hub
The British Film Commission (BFC) has named the West Midlands (Birmingham) as the UK’s eighth official regional production hub for scripted inward investment film and high-end TV.
.jpg)