**Banijay’s Global Head of Scripted, Christian Wikander, Talks about the Future of the Company and the Importance of AI**
Banijay, the TV production company behind hit shows like Peaky Blinders, Survivor, and Black Mirror, has been rapidly expanding its scripted division. With over 60 labels worldwide, Banijay is a behemoth in the industry. Christian Wikander, the company’s new Global Head of Scripted, recently sat down for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss his impressions of Banijay and his plans for the future.
When asked about his first impressions of the company, Wikander expressed his enthusiasm for being part of a company that is looking forward and building new projects. He explained that coming from HBO Nordics, where the focus was on closing down and cleaning up, he appreciated the positive environment at Banijay.
With such a vast number of scripted labels under its umbrella, Wikander acknowledged that he couldn’t be on top of everything. Instead, he sees his role as supporting the producers and the scripted team. He has been traveling and meeting with each label, listening to their strengths, challenges, and ideas. This way, he can determine where the company can offer the best support and focus its efforts.
Wikander emphasized the importance of connecting the different labels and getting them to share their experiences. He sees this as an opportune time for Banijay, as the industry is shifting away from the default setup of acquiring global rights on every occasion. With streamers pulling back and budgets being cut, there are more opportunities for co-financing and windowing deals. This is where Banijay’s strength lies, and the company can support each label in accessing funds, markets, and production services.
The conversation then turned to the current state of the industry and the impact of the writers’ strike. While Wikander personally hasn’t experienced any significant impact, he noted a slight shift towards more unscripted content to keep the supply going. However, he expressed his hopes for a resolution to the strike soon.
The topic of AI also came up, in relation to the writers’ strike and the future of storytelling. Wikander acknowledged that AI is here to stay and believes that great stories will always be at the forefront. He emphasized the importance of working with creatives and getting educated about AI to harness its potential.
In terms of upcoming projects, Wikander mentioned several titles to look out for. “Three Little Birds,” written by Lenny Henry, is a powerful story that he hopes will become a returning series. “Ronja the Robbers Daughter,” based on Astrid Lindgren’s character, is a production in Sweden that will be available on Viaplay. Lastly, Banijay recently announced “Carême,” a French series on Apple TV+ about a cook hired to spy in the French royal court.
In conclusion, Banijay is poised for growth and success under the leadership of Christian Wikander. With a focus on supporting producers, fostering collaboration between labels, and capitalizing on the changing industry landscape, Banijay is well-positioned to continue its global dominance in the scripted market.
**Editor Notes:**
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