MOTIVE PICTURES is an independent British production company specialising in premium drama series and feature films for the UK, US, and international markets, founded by Simon Maxwell and backed by FIFTH SEASON.

Motive’s first productions include the critically acclaimed, award-winning series THE WOMAN IN THE WALL, written by Joe Murtagh and starring Ruth Wilson and Daryl McCormack, for the BBC and Showtime; ONE NIGHT by Emily Ballou and starring Jodie Whittaker, for Paramount+; and GET MILLIE BLACK, an original ‘Kingston noir’ crime series from Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James, starring Tamara Lawrance and Joe Dempsie, for HBO and Channel 4.

In 2026, Motive produced the global hit YOUNG SHERLOCK, a major new series for Amazon Prime Video, directed by Guy Ritchie with Matthew Parkhill as showrunner and featuring a star cast that includes Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Donal Finn, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone, Max Irons, Zine Tseng and Colin Firth. Season 2 is currently in production with new cast members including Olivia Williams, Sophie Skelton, Aidan Gillen and Indira Varma.

Before launching the company in 2019, CEO and Executive Producer Simon Maxwell was Head of International Drama at Channel 4, commissioning a raft of ambitious drama series including the global hit HUMANS, the highest-rating drama on the channel in 20 years.