Banijay UK has invested in Rabbit Track Pictures, the London based TV & film production company co-founded by actor James Norton and Scripted Executive Kitty Kaletsky.
Rabbit Track Pictures launched in 2019 and has a slate of projects green lit for the BBC and for ITVX, plus a number of developments across film and TV. Its first film, Rogue Agent, a thriller for Netflix starring Norton, was released in 2022.
Banijay has taken a stake in the business via the £50m Banijay UK Growth Fund. Banijay UK said this will enable Rabbit Track Pictures to build its team and accelerate its growth strategy, ensuring it can continue to acquire the best IP. The deal includes a first look with distributor, Banijay Rights.
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Norton’s recent TV projects include Happy Valley (BBC/Netflix), McMafia (BBC/AMC), The Trial of Christine Keeler (BBC) and War and Peace (BBC). Film credits include Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, Mr Jones directed by Agnieszka Holland, and Paramount’s upcoming Bob Marley biopic directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.
Kaletsky has worked in senior roles at leading TV and Film production companies on both sides of the Atlantic including Archery Pictures and Black Bear Pictures, having started her career at Number 9 Films. She lived for four years in LA, running Oscar-winning Black Bear’s TV department. She is Managing Director of Rabbit Track Pictures and is responsible for running all creative and business aspects of the company.
Previous Banijay Growth Fund UK talent deals include a first look with Scripted Producer, Chris Sussman and a multi project deal with Scottish documentary Director and Producer Kevin Macdonald.
Media investment fund Great Point helped launch Rabbit Track, along with fellow founding partner The Development Partnership, by providing seed investment via its Great Point Ventures EIS fund. Both Great Point Media and The Development Partnership remain shareholders in the company. Robert Taylor will remain a Director at Rabbit Track Pictures.
Patrick Holland, CEO and Executive Chair of Banijay UK said: “James and Kitty have a truly impressive slate of projects and are incredibly ambitious for the growth of their business.”
Norton said: “Patrick and his team have been incredibly welcoming and supportive already, and clearly share mine and Kitty’s values and ambition for the company. We can’t wait to jump into the rabbit hole with them and see where the next step of this adventure takes us!”
Kaletsky added: “When James first called me about running a company together, I was still fully living and working in Los Angeles. Little could we have imagined, when kick-starting Rabbit Track right before the pandemic, that just a few short years later, we’d be teaming up with such a huge and exciting partner as Banijay.”
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