Derren Lawford: Celebs Rumors

Lexi Carson Non-scripted production company Asylum Entertainment Group has taken a stake in London-based Dare Entertainment, the companies announced Monday. Under the deal, DARE (which stands for “Diversity, Allyship, Representation, Empowerment”) Pictures will use the investment to expand its development, while its current angel investors Rosegown will exit the business.

Naman Ramachandran Writer, producer and script editor Cassandra Johnson-Bekoe has joined U.K. independent production company DARE Pictures in the newly created position of head of scripted development. Johnson-Bekoe was previously senior development executive at Daniel Kaluuya’s production outfit 59%, overseeing the company’s slate and generating new IP across international and regional markets. Prior to this she worked in scripted development and her credits include “Ted Lasso” season 2 (WarnerBros/Apple+), “Riches” (Greenacre Films for ITV), “Secret Invasion” (Marvel Studios) and “The Chemistry of Death” (Cuba Pictures Ltd, for Paramount+). Reporting into DARE CEO Derren Lawford, Johnson-Bekoe will focus on developing the company’s scripted slate, as well bringing with her an original slate of IP and working on new drama and film projects with a view to taking them from pitch to commission with a particular emphasis on the U.S. and African markets. She will identify and develop relationships with emerging and established storytelling talent.

Manori Ravindran International EditorA cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that pulled in an estimated $4 billion worldwide is getting the documentary treatment.Sky Germany, the U.K.’s Channel 4 and super-indie Fremantle are backing a three-part doc series about the con, which was spearheaded by the mysterious Dr. Ruja Ignatova, who is still on the run from law enforcement officials.“Crypto Queen” (working title) promises to shed exclusive new light on one of the biggest digital scams of the last decade.