Brad Pitt’s Plan B sets up UK outpost as studios chase European work

Plan B Entertainment, the Los Angeles production company co‑founded by Brad Pitt, is launching a UK business to expand film and TV output for European broadcasters and streamers, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

The move, centred in London, comes as studios and independents shift more development and production into Europe to secure talent and tax incentives and to diversify beyond the US market.

Plan B, which co‑produced the F1 feature fronted by Pitt, is positioning the UK arm to originate projects locally and co‑finance with European partners, responding to a commissioning pipeline that has brightened in parts of the continent after last year’s slowdown. Producers say the UK’s blend of world‑class crews, established facilities and predictable tax relief continues to attract US capital even as exchange‑rate and cost pressures bite.

The initiative adds to a series of transatlantic corporate moves that have widened the UK media ecosystem, from studio expansions around London to long‑term stage leases. While the domestic advertising market remains patchy, high‑end television has held up better than expected, and international co‑production remains a funding mainstay. Industry executives said more US independents are likely to incorporate locally to navigate British rules and talent unions more nimbly.

A UK base also helps hedge against US labour disruptions and aligns with commissioners’ growing preference for regionally originated IP. With content budgets under pressure, co‑productions that unlock multiple pots of public and private finance have become more attractive relative to fully US‑funded slates. Market watchers will look for initial slate announcements and whether Plan B partners with UK broadcasters or streamers on prestige drama, where the UK tax credit and crew depth confer a competitive edge.