CANNES, France — Sony Pictures Television will bring to market at Cannes’ Mipcom the format “Trainer Games,” a fitness competition reality showdown from Nick Rigg’s Brass Monkeys Media which takes contestants, fitness freaks, to or beyond the limits of endurance.
“Trainer Games” is just one of the latest additions to SPT’s Mipcom slate, marking its return to Mipcom which is already drawing heat thanks to a string of first-look reveals and early sales deals on a powerful bevy of top scripted titles taking in “The Miniature Wife,” “S.W.A.T. Exiles” “Lord of the Flies,” “The Lady” and “Titanic Sinks Tonight.”
In the deal, Sky has acquired for the U.K. and Ireland “The Miniature Wife,”Sony Pictures TV’s highly anticipated relationship comedy-drama starring Elizabeth Banks (“The Hunger Games”) and Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”), ahead of Mipcom. The show will air on Sky and NOW in 2026.
In further unveils, “S.W.A.T.” spinoff “Exiles” dropped Thursday a first photo of Shemar Moore and new cast as filming starts in Los Angeles.
Also, the BBC has released first look images for “Lord of the Flies,” created by “Adolescence” co-creator Jack Thorne, no less, as well as new images from dramatised documentary “Titanic Sinks Tonight.”
A Hollywood studio without its own streaming service, Sony should be one of the highest-profile players at Mipcom, thanks in part to its ambitions to sell on the open market not only titles from the companies it owns in international, such as the U.K.’s “The Crown” producer Left Bank Pictures and Eleven (“Sex Education”) as well as fr9m third party pick-ups.
This year that profile looks to be ensured by a double whammy. Sony Pictures Television chairman Keith Le Goy will feature in Variety’s C-Suite Conversations block at Mipcom in Cannes, talking in a one-on-one interview with Cynthia Littleton, Variety co-Editor in Chief, on Monday, Oct. 13 at the Palais des Festivals.
The interview will be followed a couple of hours later on Monday by Mipcom’s exclusive opening night preview screening of “The Miniature Wife.” Stars Matthew Macfadyen, O-T Fagbenle and Sian Clifford will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A.
What SPT is Bringing to the Market in Unscripted and From Latin America
A young-ish unscripted vet, Nick Rigg, whose Brass Monkeys Media holds down an overall deal with Sony Pictures Television, is best known for lifestyle hits such as “House Hunters International” and, capturing the Zeitgeist, “Tiny House Nation.” “Trainer Games,” unannounced to date, looks like something of a departure. A fitness reality contest where these strongest and fastest runners don’t take all, images released by SPT show one contestant surveying the sea perched high on a cliff, another three runners high-fiving as they reach a mountain summit.
“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Hot Seat” will also be introduced to global clients, following recent news in the U.K., where a version from SPT-backed Stellify Media has been commissioned by ITV, and from Australia, where Curio Pictures, also a SPT company, is preparing a revamp.
SPT will also showcase “Shark Tank Creators Version,” a reimagining of the business format.
SPT Latam will introduce one of the region’s weightier scripted propositions, “Carlota,” with an all-star Spanish-language key cast, and gameshow “Piensa Rápido,” hosted by comedian Adrían Uribe.
“Our current lineup of series is packed with storytelling at its finest. We truly have something for everyone and every audience. We’re looking forward to sharing these stories with our friends and clients from across the industry and all around the world next week,” said Mike Wald and Jason Spivak, Co-Presidents, Distribution & Networks, Sony Pictures Television.
A closer look at titles:
Top Titles, Sony Pictures Television Scripted:
“The Miniature Wife”
Episodes: 10
Produced by Media Res for Peacock (US); Distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Rights Available: WW excluding U.S.
Produced by Media Res (“The Morning Show,” “Pachinko”) and a dramedy examining power imbalances between spouses Lindy and Les, played by Banks and Macfadyen who battle each other for supremacy following a technological accident in which Les accidentally shrinks Lindy. Adapting a short story by Miguel Gonzalez, the show, described by Variety as “highly anticipated,” is created by Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner, (“Boardwalk Empire,” “Goliath”), who also showrun.
“S.W.A.T. Exiles”
Episodes: 10
Produced and Distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Rights Available: WW
Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, is pulled out of retirement to head up a new SWAT unit, made up of raw recruits. Hondo must turn them into “a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is,” says the synopsis. A ‘S.W.A.T.’ spin-off ordered to series by Sony with showrunner Jason Ning (“Lucifer”). Revealed at the L.A. Screenings just two months after CBS cancelled the original show, “a take on the culture generation clash of Gen X versus Gen Z,” Sony Pictures TV Studios prexy Katherine Pope told Variety.
“Lord Of The Flies”
4 x 60-minute episodes
Produced by Eleven for the BBC (U.K.) and Stan (Australia); Distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Rights Available: WW excluding U.K. & Australia
A first TV version of William Golding’s 1954 classic novel, adapted by “Adolescence” co-writer/creator Jack Thorne. Marc Munden (“Help,” “The Sympathizer”) directs the four-part series produced by SPT U.K. production co Eleven with a score co-created by multi-Oscar winning composer Hans Zimmer (“Dune,” “Planet Earth,” “The Lion King”), with each chapter named after one of its characters: Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack.
“The Lady”
4 x 60”
Produced by Left Bank Pictures for ITV (U.K.) and BritBox International (U.S.); Distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Rights Available: WW excluding UK, US
“How to Have Sex” star Mia McKenna-Bruce plays Jane Andrews and “Game of Thrones” Natalie Dormer Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, in a semi-fictionalised account of Andrews’ rise as an aide to the Duchess until her fall when convicted of murder. Based on true events surrounding Andrews’ story, the four-part drama is written by Debbie O’Malley (“Payback)”; Lee Haven Jones (“A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story”) directs. Left Bank Pictures’ first return after “The Crown” to the huge IP that is the British royal family.
“Titanic Sinks Tonight”
4 x 60”
Produced by Stellify Media for BBC (U.K.); Distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Rights Available: WW excluding U.K.
A four-partreal-time doc drama reconstructs the sinking of the Titanic minute by minute, told entirely through authentic survivor testimony, tracking 16 real individuals whose experiences unfold in parallel, each hour of television mirroring an hour on the ship. “This is the Titanic story as it’s never been told before – immersive, urgent, and profoundly human,” says SPT. It’s also one of Mipcom 2025 virtual production showcases, here courtesy of work from Northern Ireland’s Studio Ulster.
Sony Unscripted Formats
“Trainer Games”
Produced by Brass Monkeys Media, made in collaboration with iFit. Distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Launched at Mipcom, 10 fitness enthusiasts compete in what is described as a beautiful but unforgiving landscape under the guidance of three elite fitness trainers. However, “it’s not about being the strongest or the first over the line, it’s about empathy, trust and the ability to inspire others to get to the finish line,” says the logline. The contestant who shows the most star quality wins a life-changing cash prize and a contract to join a reputable sports brand as a fitness instructor or ambassador.
“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Hot Seat”
Versions produced by Stellify Media, Curio Pictures. Distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Originally launched in Australia in 2009 but now re-energized by an order by major broadcaster ITV for a debut version in the U.K. from SPT joint venture Stellify Media, to be hosted by Jeremy Clarkson. A new Australia version in also in the works by SPT-backed Curio Pictures. Described by Matthew Worthy, co-CEO Stellify Media, as “the main show’s cheeky younger sibling.” It’s also shorter, a fast-paced half hour.
“Shark Tank Creators Version”
Produced by Floresta. Distributed by Sony Pictures Television. Described by SPT as a groundbreaking digital-first reinvention of the globally acclaimed business format, purpose-built for YouTube and the creator economy. Produced by SPT-owned Floresta for Shark Tank Brazil’s YouTube channel, the series has scored two nominations at Mipcom for the C21 International Format Awards – for Best Digital-First Format and Brand-Driven Format.
SPT Latam Titles
“Carlota”
“Sisi” in Mexico? Historical extravaganzas mixing intrepid before-their-time women and modern music and mores have seen some major success. Unveiled at the L.A. Screenings and packing a top-notch star cast – Mexican pop icon Belinda (“Who Killed Him?” Jaime Lorente (“Money Heist”), Miguel Ángel Silvestre (“Velvet”) and Mabel Cadena (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”). The story of Carlota of Hapsburg – Mexico’s first and only Empress, three years younger than Sisi and her sister-in-law – who battled to impose her liberal ideals on Mexico. The high-end premium series will be directed by Alejandro Bazzano (“Money Heist”) and Ana Lorena Pérez Ríos (“Como Agua Para Chocolate”).
“Piensa Rápido”
Distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Launched this year on TelevisaUnivision’s UniMas, a Mexican version of “America Says,” which screens on U.S. cable channel Game Show Network (GSN), owned by Sony. Two teams of friends and family compete to see who can guess the most popular answers to general knowledge and pop culture questions the fastest. Hosted by popular comedian Adrián Uribe, playing one of his characters, El Vítor.