Mews Films hopes to hit target for comedy

The Times I November 17 2020

The producer of the Sky drama series Riviera is creating a production house to develop British comedies.

Archery Pictures, led by the PR executive-turned-film-maker Kris Thykier, has formed the Mews Films label to bring more homegrown work to cinema screens. Elysian Film Group will work in partnership with Archery in the venture.

Mr Thykier, 48, is a former senior executive at Freud Communications and is married to Claudia Winkleman, presenter of Strictly Come Dancing.

In 2014 he founded Archery, which developed and produced Riviera for Sky Atlantic and The State for Channel 4. Other credits include Tolkien, a JRR Tolkien biopic starring Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins, Kick-Ass , the superhero comedy, and I Give It A Year, the romantic comedy.

Archery and Elysian will fund established and emerging talent and have said that they intend to give a platform to black, Asian, ethnic minority and female filmmakers.

Mr Thykier said: “There is a significant commercial market in the UK for homegrown comedy movies and there has never been a time when more people needed laughter in their lives.”