5 Minutes
Plan B arrives in Europe — a new hub for premium TV
Plan B, the production company co-founded by Brad Pitt alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, has officially opened a European arm in London. The move signals an ambitious expansion of the studio’s international footprint: Plan B Europe will develop, finance and produce premium scripted television across the UK and the continent, leveraging local talent, co-production treaties and the city’s well-established film and TV infrastructure.
Ed Macdonald: from Clerkenwell to Plan B
Leading the new office is Ed Macdonald, best known for his executive role at Clerkenwell Films and as a driving force behind Netflix’s breakout British drama Baby Reindeer. Macdonald’s appointment brings a track record for character-driven, culturally resonant series that helped define contemporary prestige TV in the UK.
What this means creatively and commercially
Plan B Europe’s brief is twofold: increase the company’s output of high-end series in the UK and Europe, and accelerate co-productions with international partners. The London base gives Plan B direct access to the UK’s creative ecosystem — writers, showrunners and actors — while allowing it to navigate European film funds, tax incentives and cross-border financing more nimbly. The company already has experience on the international stage through recent television partnerships, including co-producing Netflix’s Stephen Graham-led Adolescence.
Strategic partnership with Mediawan
The expansion is an evolution of Plan B’s integration into France-based Mediawan, which acquired a stake in the company in 2022. Mediawan executives have framed the launch as a milestone in building a pan-European studio network — combining French financial muscle, Plan B’s premium label and London’s status as a gateway between American and European industries.
How this fits current industry trends
The move reflects broader shifts in the film and TV business: American indie producers are increasingly establishing European hubs to tap public funding schemes, local talent pools and streaming demand for international content. As streaming platforms seek distinct, regionally authentic series that travel globally, companies that can blend U.S. development expertise with European production incentives stand to gain a competitive edge.
Comparisons and context
Plan B’s move echoes similar expansion strategies from other prestige labels trying to replicate Hollywood success on European soil. Unlike some expansions driven purely by tax optimization, Plan B Europe is presented as a creative outpost — led by a respected producer with a clear editorial voice. Fans of Baby Reindeer and other recent British dramas can expect the new office to prioritize bold, auteur-driven storytelling rather than formulaic franchises.
Critical perspectives and potential challenges
There’s excitement — and some skepticism. Industry observers applaud the potential for fresh collaborations; critics warn consolidation can dilute local identities if projects chase global tastes over cultural specificity. There’s also the practical challenge of balancing Mediawan’s continental strategy with the UK’s regulatory and funding environment in a post-Brexit landscape.
"Plan B Europe could become a vital crossroads for transatlantic storytelling, but its success depends on preserving local creative autonomy while scaling up production," says film critic Anna Kovacs. "If they maintain a producer-led approach and resist one-size-fits-all formulas, this office could nurture standout series that feel both local and universal."
Behind the scenes and what to watch next
Ed Macdonald has described his move from Clerkenwell as a leap into an environment that values a producer-first ethos — a hint that Plan B Europe will double down on writer-driven development and long-form series. Keep an eye on announcements of co-productions that pair British showrunners with Plan B’s global relationships, plus possible collaborations leaning into Europe’s diverse locations and financing schemes.
Conclusion: A new chapter for prestige TV
Plan B’s London launch is more than a corporate opening; it’s a statement about the future of premium television. By combining Plan B’s taste for ambitious storytelling, Mediawan’s European reach and Ed Macdonald’s production sensibility, the new arm has the ingredients to produce series that resonate worldwide while rooted in regional craft. Whether it will reshape the landscape of European prestige TV remains to be seen, but this is a development worth following for anyone interested in the evolving interplay of art, commerce and international co-production.
Source: deadline
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