Fifth Season has acquired UK film and television studio The Story Collective.
The company was launched in 2021 by Damian Keogh and Simon Vaughan under the original name The Story Company.
Following the acquisition, Keogh will remain CEO of The Story Collective and also become Senior VP and Managing Director of International Scripted at Fifth Season. In his new role, Keogh will work strategically across the company’s international television studio and distribution projects.
The deal is intended to strengthen the company’s UK content and production capabilities. Ben Irving will continue to lead Fifth Season’s UK development and production slate as Senior VP, Creative Director, International Scripted. A combined leadership team including Elouise West, Natasha Neill, and Charlotte Bloxham will oversee business affairs, finance, and production from London.
The Story Collective previously produced A Thousand Blows, created by Steven Knight and starring Stephen Graham. The studio also maintains creative partnerships with companies such as Mighty Pebble Pictures and Cosmopolitan Pictures.
As part of the deal, Simon Vaughan will depart to launch a new creative studio called Storyworks. Storyworks will operate under a first-look deal with Fifth Season and collaborate on certain existing projects.
Fifth Season is known for producing series including Severance, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Tokyo Vice.
