Sony and Guardian set leadership for first-look partnership

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and the Guardian have tapped former Amazon Studios exec Tara Bohn as part of the leadership team for its first-look scripted partnership. 

Bohn has joined as head of global content development and will work alongside Lindsay Poulton who has been promoted to editorial director, film and TV. 

Bohn takes up the position having carved out a multi-faceted TV career as a producer, studio and network exec. Most recently, she served in Amazon Studios’ series team, working across development and domestic and international current original series including Reacher, Carnival Row, The Outlaws and Nine Perfect Strangers. 

She has previously worked with SPE on flagship titles including The Good Doctor for ABC and The Scandal anthology for BBC and Amazon Prime Video. 

Bohn will lead alongside Poulton whose expanded role will champion the Guardian’s journalism and core editorial purpose on projects cultivated from the creative partnership. She will continue with her current duties as head of documentaries for the British broadsheet’s burgeoning long-form content output: commissioning and curating its high-end factual projects which include Oscar-winning Colette and Bafta-winning The Black Cop. 

SPE and the Guardian announced the landmark deal in November with plans to exploit the newspaper’s current and developing news stories, its journalists and contributors, and its 200-year-strong archive to turn into TV and film productions.  

The tie-up will cover all Sony Pictures Television’s UK labels including scripted indies Left Bank Pictures and Bad Wolf and unscripted players like The Whisper Group. 

Matthew Justice, executive vice-president UK & Europe, SPT, said: “It is fantastic to have Tara and Lindsay bringing their pedigree and experience to lead this collaboration. Tara has an incredible eye for projects which find acclaim and audiences the world over.  

“Coupled with Lindsay’s journalistic expertise and the sheer wealth of stories available across The Guardian’s output and archive, it’s tremendously exciting to announce this top team to take our collaboration forward.” 

Bohn said: “In a rapidly shifting entertainment landscape, IP adaptations have become an essential and steadying force. This partnership is poised to emerge as a key leader in that space.  

“With the Guardian’s trailblazing work and talented team, including Lindsay, combined with Sony’s powerhouse creative, I am confident we will deliver culturally defining content across all genres and formats to millions of viewers worldwide.” 

Poulton added: “I’m delighted to lead editorial strategy and representation across our film and TV partnerships and productions, and to embed this exciting new collaboration with Sony in the Guardian’s distinctive ethos and purpose.  

“We are renowned for our agenda setting journalism and I’m excited to extend the impact of that work in imaginative new ways. Working alongside Tara and in deep collaboration with Sony’s creative talent, I’m thrilled to be part of this brilliant team as we bring powerful new stories to the screen.” 

This story originally appeared on our sister site Broadcast

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