(Septmber 16, 2015 – Montréal, Québec) Muse Distribution International has sold its slate of light mystery movies to approximately 85 territories ahead of MIPCOM, proving that broadcasters and audiences around the world are drawn to the genre. The series of made-for-television light mystery movies include The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, The Gourmet Detective Mysteries (pictured) and Lost Letter Mysteries.
“Compelling characters and top-level talent drive our mystery franchises making them an excellent value proposition for buyers,” said Michael Prupas, CEO of Muse Entertainment. “These light mystery movie wheels are programmed across channel brands and in multiple time-slots, driving consistent audience numbers and building brand loyalty.” He went on to say, “The genre is proving so popular that we will produce seven to ten new movies next year including a fourth franchise based on the novels of New York Times best-selling mystery writer Sandra Brown.”
Produced for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel (US) and presold to Canada’s Corus Media in English and to Bell Media in French, The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries are based on novels by New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris. The movies star Candace Cameron Bure (The View, Full House) as Aurora “Roe” Teagarden, a librarian and amateur sleuth who unexpectedly solves real-life murders in her small town.
The Gourmet Detective Mysteries, which are also licensed by Hallmark and presold to Canada’s Superchannel in English and to Bell Media in French, follow Henry Roth, a chef turned gourmet detective, played by Dylan Neal (50 Shades of Grey, Cedar Cove) who with Detective Maggie Price (Brooke Burns of Baywatch-fame) uses his mastery of food, drink and cooking to hunt down killers one recipe at a time. They are based on a series of acclaimed novels by Peter King.
Lost Letter Mysteries, Muse Entertainment’s hit movies collection for the Hallmark Channel in the U.S. (and series also known as Signed Sealed Delivered) which was presold to Canada’s Bell Media, is created by Martha Williamson (Touched by an Angel), and star Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty) and Kristin Booth (The Kennedys). The movies follow four postal workers in the “Dead Letter Office” who take it upon themselves to find the recipients of “undeliverable” letters and packages lost for years, managing to save lives, solve crimes, reunite old loves and change futures.
Sales of Aurora Teagarden and Gourmet Detective have been made to NBCU’s Movies 24 (UK), Channel 5 (UK), M6 (France), RTBF, NBCU’s 13th Street (Australia), NBCU’s Diva Universal (Asia), Digiturk (Turkey) among others, while Lost Letter Mysteries have sold throughout Europe and Latin America, Brazil, Australia, Turkey, Israel, Taiwan and the Philippines.
Muse Distribution International is the distribution arm of Muse Entertainment Enterprises, the leading film and television production house behind this summer’s ratings hit TUT and the Emmy Award-winning event limited series The Kennedys and Pillars of the Earth.
