About Us

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 acclaimed 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 the forthcoming GET MILLIE BLACK, an original ‘Kingston noir’ crime series from Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James, starring Tamara Lawrance and Joe Dempsie, which launches on Channel 4 and HBO later in 2024. 

Motive is currently in production on YOUNG SHERLOCK, a major new series for Prime Video, directed by Guy Ritchie with Matthew Parkhill as showrunner and featuring a star cast that includes Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone, and Zine Tseng. 

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.