Bad Wolf (production company)

Bad Wolf Ltd.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelevision
Founded2015; 9 years ago (2015)
FounderJulie Gardner
Jane Tranter
HeadquartersCardiff, Wales, UK
Key people
Julie Gardner
Jane Tranter
Natasha Hale
ParentSony Pictures Television (2021–present)
DivisionsBad Wolf America
Websitebad-wolf.com

Bad Wolf Ltd. is a television production company founded by Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter in 2015 based in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.[1][2] The company is responsible for the television series The Night Of, Beddgelert, A Discovery of Witches, His Dark Materials and – starting with the 2023 Specials – Doctor Who.

History

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The company was founded in 2015 by former BBC executives Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter after leaving BBC Worldwide.[3] During their time at the BBC, they worked with Russell T Davies on the 2005 relaunch of Doctor Who, which was made in Wales.[4] The company name is a homage to the "Bad Wolf" storyline from the relaunched series. In 2015, it signed a first look deal with HBO.[5]

In 2017, the company opened a new film and television studio in Cardiff, named Wolf Studios Wales.[6] That same year, Bad Wolf's first production, The Night Of,[7] was nominated for thirteen Emmys, of which it won five.[8] Later that year, they also received investment from European media conglomerate Sky Group and American network HBO in return for minority stakes in the company.[9]

The first episode of the company's His Dark Materials, which began an adaptation of the book series of the same name, was watched by approximately seven million people. This made the premiere the biggest new British series debut in over five years.[10]

In April 2020, Bad Wolf announced that had commenced work on I Hate Suzie starring Billie Piper, whom Gardner and Tranter's associate Russell T Davies had cast in the major role of Rose Tyler on Doctor Who.[11][12]

On 24 September 2021, BBC Studios announced that Bad Wolf would become co-producer of Doctor Who itself starting in 2023, following the scheduled departure of the series' current showrunner, Chris Chibnall, who occupied the role from 2017 to 2022. Davies returned to his old role as showrunner, which he had occupied from 2005 to 2010, with Gardner returning as executive producer and Tranter joining also.[13]

In October 2021, it was announced that Sony Pictures Television would acquire a majority of Bad Wolf,[14] acquiring the remaining shares from HBO and Sky plc in December of that year.[15] The deal brought in a new member, Natasha Hale, along with a long-term partnership to produce future productions and boost Cardiff's standing in the entertainment industry.[16]

Productions

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Television series

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Key
† Denotes series that have not yet been released
Year Title Creator(s) Distributor(s) Notes
2016 The Night Of Steven Zaillian
Richard Price 		BBC Studios Owned by BBC
2017 Beddgelert Medeni Griffiths
2018–2022 A Discovery of Witches Deborah Harkness Sky Vision (S1)
NBCUniversal International Distribution (S2/S3) 		Owned by NBCUniversal
2019–2022 His Dark Materials[17] Philip Pullman BBC Studios (United Kingdom)
HBO (International) 		Owned by HBO and BBC
2020–present Industry Konrad Kay
Mickey Down
2020–2022 I Hate Suzie Lucy Prebble
Billie Piper 		NBCUniversal International Distribution[18] Owned by NBCUniversal
2023 The Winter King Kate Brooke
Ed Whitmore 		Sony Pictures Television[19]
2023–present Doctor Who Sydney Newman
C.E. Webber
Donald Wilson 		BBC Studios (United Kingdom and Ireland)[20]
Disney+ (International)[21] 		Owned by BBC
2023–2024 Tales of the TARDIS Russell T Davies BBC Studios
2024 Red Eye Peter A. Dowling
Jingan Young 		Sony Pictures Television
Lady in the Lake Laura Lippman Apple TV+[22] Under Bad Wolf America banner
TBA Coming Undone † Terri White Netflix[23]
Dope Girls † Polly Stenham Sony Pictures Television[24]
The War Between the Land and the Sea † Russell T Davies BBC Studios (United Kingdom and Ireland)
Disney+ (International)[25]

References

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  1. ^ "BAD WOLF LTD". Companies House. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Bad Wolf Cardiff Creative". Cardiff Creative. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  3. ^ Plunkett, John (27 July 2015). "BBC executives behind Doctor Who comeback set up production company". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  4. ^ Barraclough, Leo (27 July 2015). "Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner, BBC Execs Behind 'Doctor Who,' Launch Bad Wolf (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  5. ^ Barraclough, Leo (3 November 2015). "HBO Partners with Production Company Bad Wolf (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  6. ^ Ravindran, Manori (16 May 2017). "NEWS Bad Wolf opens major film and television studio in Wales". Screen Daily. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  7. ^ "The Night Of". Bad Wolf. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  8. ^ "The complete list of 2017 Emmy winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Sky and HBO advance production partnership with investment in Bad Wolf". www.skygroup.sky. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  10. ^ "His Dark Materials is most-watched new show in five years". The Independent. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  11. ^ "When is Billie Piper's Sky drama I Hate Suzie on TV?". Radio Times. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Billie Piper will lead the cast of new Sky original drama I Hate Suzie". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. ^ Yossman, K. J. (24 September 2021). "'Doctor Who' Showrunner Russell T. Davies to Return for Next Season". Variety. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Doctor Who producer Bad Wolf 'to be acquired by Sony'". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  15. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (1 December 2021). "Sony Confirms Acquisition of 'His Dark Materials' Producer Bad Wolf, Buys Out Sky/HBO Minority Stake". Variety. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Sony have acquired future 'Doctor Who' producer Bad Wolf". CultBox. December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  17. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (1 December 2021). "Sony Confirms Acquisition of 'His Dark Materials' Producer Bad Wolf, Buys Out Sky/HBO Minority Stake". Variety. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  18. ^ Kanter, Jake (9 October 2020). "'I Hate Suzie': HBO Max Picks Up Comedy Drama From 'Succession' Writer Lucy Prebble". Deadline. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  19. ^ "'Warlord Chronicles' Gets TV Adaptation From 'His Dark Materials' Producer Bad Wolf In First Project Under Sony (EXCLUSIVE)". www.variety.com. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Russell T Davies to return as Doctor Who showrunner". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  21. ^ Moss, Molly. "Doctor Who to stream on Disney Plus outside of the UK". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  22. ^ White, Peter (10 March 2021). "Natalie Portman & Lupita Nyong'o To Star In 'Lady In The Lake' Series At Apple From Alma Har'el, Dre Ryan, Jean-Marc Vallée, Bad Wolf & Endeavor Content". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  23. ^ White, Peter (4 April 2022). "Billie Piper Set To Star In Series Adaptation Of Terri White Memoir 'Coming Undone' In The Works At Netflix From Bad Wolf". Deadline. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  24. ^ "BBC announces cast for major new drama series Dope Girls". BBC. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw lead cast of Doctor Who spin-off series for the BBC and Disney+". BBC. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
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