Steve North & Hilary Rosen To Lead UKTV Content Team
Following the exit of the long-serving Richard Watsham, British channel operator UKTV will promote Steve North and Hilary Rosen to lead its creative team. North, currently Chief Programming Officer, will take on a newly-created Chief Content Officer post at the Bookish commissioner, while Rosen will assume the creative lead for originals, with her Director of Commissioning title remaining the same. Watsham will exit his post as Chief Creative Officer in September. North already oversees streaming service U and manages the editorial direction of the BBC Studios-owned business. In his new role, he’ll report to UKTV CEO Marcus Arthur and will assume oversight of the content pipeline, including original commissions and acquisitions, along with the overall content investment strategy. The UKTV acquisitions team will now report into North. Rosen will also report into North, as she takes what UKTV calls “creative leadership” of original commissioned content. She has led UKTV’s commissioning team across drama, factual, factual entertainment and comedy entertainment since 2022. Production management now falls under her purview, along with efforts in diversity, inclusion and sustainability and supporting the freelance community. “Steve and Hilary have already played a huge role in driving UKTV’s success within their existing remits, and with Richard’s decision to step down, I saw an opportunity to further leverage their influence,” said Arthur. UKTV recently launched Mark Gatiss drama series Bookish, which he bills as “cozy crime with an edge,” on its U&Alibi channel.
Ashley Brooke Stars In Erika Jolie Debut
EXCLUSIVE: A Small Light actress Ashley Brooke and You Still Have Time‘s Ian Brownhill are starring in Erika Jolie’s directorial debut, All You Have, which has wrapped principal photography. Brownhill will play a father and Brooke his estranged daughter, as they attempt to bend a broken relationship while hiking the Appalachian Trial. Brooke is known for her role as Margot Frank in Disney+ limited series A Small Light. In All You Have, she plays fiercely independent 18-year-old Claire, who years to reconnect with her father despite her stubborn resilience. The pic also stars Eaddy Mays (The Blind Side) and Lilian Rebelo (Only Murders in the Building). Jolie (The Secrets We Hide), Kimbirdlee Fadner (Eternal), Saul Johnson-Green, Aidan Hupper and Hadley Brown also appear in the film. Principal photography wrapped this week in the New Hampshire wilderness. Jolie, Emily Crosier (Timelapse), Bryson Mustard (Do the Thing), Calli Colvin (Lost Along the Way) and Alana Phillips (Everwinter Night) are the producers and executive producers include Shaun Paul Piccinino (A California Christmas) and George Apostolidis (The Last Day). Associate producers include Fadner (The Actress) and Richard Riehle (Office Space). Brooke is represented by CESD, Rebelo by Buchwald, Fadner by Calli Company, Brown by Innovative Artists and Mays by Key Talent Management.
‘Squid Game’ Stars Lee Byung-hun and Yim Siwan Set For KCON LA
Squid Game stars Lee Byung-hun and Yim Siwan (aka Im Si-wan) will make special appearances at KCON LA 2025, the K-pop fan and artist festival. Lee, who stars in Squid Game and Park Chan-wook’s upcoming film No Other Choice, and K-pop idol-turned actor Yim will appear on August 1 at the M Countdown event. Yim will also be present at the K-Culture Night at the David Geffen Theater at the Academy Museum on July 31, a day before KCON begins. This will be emceed by Korean-American entertainer Eric Nam and also features the likes of dander Choi Ho-jong, K-pop stars Lee Young-Ji and P1Harmony and Japanese girl group IS:SUE. KCON takes place Augist 1-3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena.
Lee Mi-sook and Park Hae-joon Join Disney+/Hulu Drama ‘Tempest‘
Lee Mi-sook and Park Hae-joon are joining the star-studded cast of upcoming Disney+ and Hulu k-drama series Tempest, which has been handed a September 10 launch date. The spy thriller, in which a skilled former diplomat tries to uncover the truth behind an attempt on the South Korean president’s life, will see Queen of Tears actress Lee and When Life Gives You Tangerines star Park joining the likes of Gianna Jun (aka Jun Ji-hyun), Gang Dong-won, John Cho, Christopher Gorham, Michael Gaston and Spencer Garrett in the cast. The nine-part series debuts with three episodes, with two more rolling out each week until a two-part finale on October 1. It comes from Imaginus in association with Showrunners, AA, and Skydance. Kim Hee-won, who directed Lee in Queen of Tears, is the director, with martial arts guru Heo Myeong-haeng the co-director. Chung Seok-yung (Decision to Leave) is the writer.
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