Sony Pictures Television on Tuesday unveiled the launch of Hot Sauce, a Belfast-based production company run by investigative journalists turned drama creatives Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, known for projects such as Netflix films Rogue agent and the BBC crime drama Blue lights.
“SPT's backing will boost Hot Sauce and see it launch as a full production company,” Sony said. “As a majority-owned company, Hot Sauce joins the SPT International Production Group portfolio, along with other screenplay companies Left Bank Pictures, Eleven, Eleventh hour moviesand Cardiff-based Bad Wolf, and will be SPT's second production company in Belfast, alongside formats and non-scripted specialist Stellify Media.
Lawn and Patterson met while working for the BBC's flagship current affairs programme Panorama. They then co-wrote the hit BBC drama The Salisbury Poisoningswhich according to Sony became the BBC's most watched drama of 20201. Their first feature film Rogue agentstarring James Norton and Gemma Arterton, it will be released on Netflix and in IFC theaters in the US in 2022.
Their original series Blue lights about policing in contemporary Belfast has been a major success for the BBC, with both seasons released so far attracting large audiences. Lawn and Patterson, repped by United Agents in the UK and WME in the US, will continue with their writing commitments on the show.
SPT's investment demonstrates “how much confidence this global media powerhouse has in Belfast's future as a creative hub in television and film”, Lawn and Patterson said.
“This deal was a yes on multiple levels for us at SPT,” said Matthew Justice, executive vice president, head of UK and Europe, Sony Pictures Television. “Firstly, it's an investment in Declan and Adam. We are great admirers of their work. Finding creative talent who has the skills, ability and ambition to grow a business around their creativity is always an attractive proposition. They have a unique and analytical approach to creating drama and have had everyone knocking on their door thanks to the success of Blue lightsso having the opportunity to bring them into the SPT family and build the next chapter of Hot Sauce with them is tremendously exciting.
He added: “This is also an investment in Belfast's industry. We've long had a presence in Northern Ireland's creative community through Stellify, but we know the screenwriting industry is full of talent and potential. This deal further strengthens our national portfolio and, together with Bad Wolf's base in Wales and Left Bank's production work in Scotland on Foreigner AND Department Qhighlights the creative genius of the entire national production panorama”.