Carnival Films CEO Gareth Neame on Delivering the Finest in 'Very British' Entertainment

      Carnival Films has expanded its reach globally, propelled by the immense success of Downton Abbey. Its sniper-thriller series The Day of the Jackal and the air-disaster drama Lockerbie: A Search for Truth are rich in international intrigue.

      Both shows are produced by Universal International Studios, part of Universal Studio Group. Nonetheless, Carnival’s projects retain a quintessentially British essence, a choice emphasized by CEO Gareth Neame.

      “I hope that our shows are characterized by a grand ambition to resonate with audiences worldwide, offering distinctly British narratives,” Neame states.

      Founded in London in 1978 by feature film producer Brian Eastman, Carnival Films has created content for the UK’s BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, and U.S. networks like PBS, A&E, HBO, and NBC. One of its notable successes was the acclaimed 1989 TV miniseries Traffik, which inspired Steven Soderbergh’s Oscar-winning film Traffic in 2000.

      In 2004, Neame, a former head of drama at the BBC, joined Carnival. The company was acquired by NBCUniversal in 2008, and Downton Abbey premiered two years later.

      Soon after, Nigel Marchant, who produced both Downton and another Carnival success, The Philanthropist, transitioned into Carnival as an executive producer and later became managing director.

      Currently, Carnival and British projects are thriving—an achievement Neame largely attributes to Downton Abbey, a significant award-winner that has also led to three feature films.

      “Downton is culturally significant and has played a vital role in the globalization of content; it was the first UK show to achieve sales values comparable to Hollywood productions,” Neame shares with MovieMaker.

      He elaborates that Universal's sales strategy positioned Downton Abbey as their top show, indicating it’s on par with other offerings and not priced lower than similar shows.

      Neame argues that Downton has undoubtedly prompted streaming giants like Apple, Netflix, and Amazon to invest in London, and he attributes the current demand for British talent to the show’s success.

      That heightened interest has contributed to Carnival’s The Day of the Jackal, which is a strong contender for multiple emmy awards, already having received nominations for the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and SAG Awards. Eddie Redmayne, the lead actor, is among this year’s top contenders.

      The series is a contemporary adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's 1971 novel and the 1973 film featuring Edward Fox, which depicted a fictionalized account of an assassin tasked with killing French President Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s.

      Redmayne may have a background in modeling, but Neame describes him as "beautifully ugly" in the role of the Jackal. Neame, who hadn’t collaborated with Redmayne previously, recognized him as an actor who is drawn to roles that demand considerable preparation, research, physicality, makeup, and choreographed movement.

      “He clearly gravitates toward challenging roles,” Neame added.

      Neame also expresses that he “was very eager to pay homage” to Fox, noting the English roots shared by both Fox and Redmayne, which aligns with Forsyth’s novel. The initial chapters refer to the Jackal solely as “the Englishman,” making it vital to cast an actor who felt distinctly English, according to Neame.

      The Day of the Jackal was scripted by Forsyth and Kenneth Ross. In 1972, the year separating the book and movie releases, Forsyth published The Odessa File, which saw its film adaptation co-written by Ross and George Markstein in 1974.

      Why mention this? Because the Odessa File film was directed by Ronald Neame, Gareth Neame’s uncle. This connection gave the Carnival chief a unique personal bond with Forsyth’s work.

      For over 50 years, The Jackal languished in Universal’s archives. Neame recalls approaching Universal carefully with the idea to reboot the film as a series. Universal supported the concept, given Neame and Marchant’s proven track record in adapting films for television. Downton Abbey notably drew inspiration from director Robert Altman’s 2001 film Gosford Park, written by Downton creator Julian Fellowes, with both projects featuring the late Maggie Smith.

      “When you adapt a similar concept into multiple episodes across numerous seasons, the narrative takes on a distinctly new form,” Neame remarked. As soon as he envisioned Jackal as a 10-part modern series, he felt invigorated by its possibilities.

      Sky, Peacock, and Carnival have confirmed that a second season of The Day of the Jackal is in development.

      Revisiting Lockerbie

      Colin Firth portrays Dr. Jim Swire in Lockerbie: A Search for Truth.

      Carnival’s other major contender this awards season, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, recounts the tragic bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, one of history’s deadliest air disasters