ABC Signature has hired Starz programming exec Susan Lewis as SVP and head of drama development, replacing Patrick Maguire at the recently restructured studio.
In her new role, Lewis will head the label’s drama team and report to Tracy Underwood, EVP of creative affairs for ABC Signature, beginning Aug. 31. The studio, led by president Jonnie Davis, is the result of a merger between ABC Studios and ABC Signature, as part of an overall restructuring and re-naming at Disney Television Studios earlier this month.
Former drama head Maguire, who has been with the company for almost two decades, is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
“I feel very lucky to be joining the incredibly talented team at ABC Signature,” Lewis said. “The breadth of projects that they have brought to audiences is unparalleled, and I am excited to be at a company that is doing everything possible to tell stories about...
In her new role, Lewis will head the label’s drama team and report to Tracy Underwood, EVP of creative affairs for ABC Signature, beginning Aug. 31. The studio, led by president Jonnie Davis, is the result of a merger between ABC Studios and ABC Signature, as part of an overall restructuring and re-naming at Disney Television Studios earlier this month.
Former drama head Maguire, who has been with the company for almost two decades, is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
“I feel very lucky to be joining the incredibly talented team at ABC Signature,” Lewis said. “The breadth of projects that they have brought to audiences is unparalleled, and I am excited to be at a company that is doing everything possible to tell stories about...
- 8/20/2020
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Susan Lewis is joining ABC Signature as senior vice president and head of drama development.
Lewis will officially join the studio on Aug. 31 and will report to Tracy Underwood. She takes over the role from Patrick Maguire, who exited the studio amid the recent restructuring that saw ABC Studios and ABC Signature combine under the ABC Signature banner as part of Disney Television Studios.
“I feel very lucky to be joining the incredibly talented team at ABC Signature,” Lewis said. “The breadth of projects that they have brought to audiences is unparalleled, and I am excited to be at a company that is doing everything possible to tell stories about people that have not been told before.”
Lewis most recently worked at Starz Entertainment, where she has been senior vice president of original programming since 2017. During her tenure, she oversaw multiple series including “Dublin Murders,” “Hightown,” and the new critically-acclaimed series “P-Valley.
Lewis will officially join the studio on Aug. 31 and will report to Tracy Underwood. She takes over the role from Patrick Maguire, who exited the studio amid the recent restructuring that saw ABC Studios and ABC Signature combine under the ABC Signature banner as part of Disney Television Studios.
“I feel very lucky to be joining the incredibly talented team at ABC Signature,” Lewis said. “The breadth of projects that they have brought to audiences is unparalleled, and I am excited to be at a company that is doing everything possible to tell stories about people that have not been told before.”
Lewis most recently worked at Starz Entertainment, where she has been senior vice president of original programming since 2017. During her tenure, she oversaw multiple series including “Dublin Murders,” “Hightown,” and the new critically-acclaimed series “P-Valley.
- 8/20/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
ABC Signature, the recently rebranded production division that includes ABC Studios, has hired Starz’ Susan Lewis as its new head of drama development.
Lewis, who was SVP, Original Programming at the premium pay-tv network, joins on August 31 and will head the label’s drama team, reporting to Executive Vice President Tracy Underwood.
She replaces Patrick Maguire, who was promoted to SVP of drama development under former ABC Studios President Patrick Moran in September 2018. Maguire, who has been at Disney, ABC and ABC Studios in various roles since 2002, is understood to be considering other opportunities.
The move comes ten days after Disney Television Studios launched a major rebrand of its three TV studios. ABC Signature, which now encapsulates ABC Studios, is led by president Jonnie Davis, while Fox 21 Television Studios, led by president Bert Salke, will be renamed Touchstone Television, and 20th Century Fox Television, led by president Carolyn Cassidy,...
Lewis, who was SVP, Original Programming at the premium pay-tv network, joins on August 31 and will head the label’s drama team, reporting to Executive Vice President Tracy Underwood.
She replaces Patrick Maguire, who was promoted to SVP of drama development under former ABC Studios President Patrick Moran in September 2018. Maguire, who has been at Disney, ABC and ABC Studios in various roles since 2002, is understood to be considering other opportunities.
The move comes ten days after Disney Television Studios launched a major rebrand of its three TV studios. ABC Signature, which now encapsulates ABC Studios, is led by president Jonnie Davis, while Fox 21 Television Studios, led by president Bert Salke, will be renamed Touchstone Television, and 20th Century Fox Television, led by president Carolyn Cassidy,...
- 8/20/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Courteney Cox has signed on for a starring role in the Starz horror comedy pilot.
The half-hour series follows a dysfunctional family that moves from the city to a small town into a house in which terrible atrocities have taken place. But no one seems to notice except for Pat (Cox), who’s convinced she’s either depressed or possessed.
Pat is further described as former “wild child” who rose to fame by writing a raunchy, drug-and-alcohol-soaked women’s empowerment novel. Fast forward 17 years later, Pat is clean and sober but totally unfulfilled. She still hasn’t written her second novel, she can’t remember the last time she had sex with her husband, and her teenage kids are at that stage where they love their vile friends and want you dead. She was a faithful wife until her one slip-up: a torrid 15-night-stand with a hot, young artist/handyman/musician neighbor.
The half-hour series follows a dysfunctional family that moves from the city to a small town into a house in which terrible atrocities have taken place. But no one seems to notice except for Pat (Cox), who’s convinced she’s either depressed or possessed.
Pat is further described as former “wild child” who rose to fame by writing a raunchy, drug-and-alcohol-soaked women’s empowerment novel. Fast forward 17 years later, Pat is clean and sober but totally unfulfilled. She still hasn’t written her second novel, she can’t remember the last time she had sex with her husband, and her teenage kids are at that stage where they love their vile friends and want you dead. She was a faithful wife until her one slip-up: a torrid 15-night-stand with a hot, young artist/handyman/musician neighbor.
- 2/28/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
The WGA East today announced the second crop of fellows for its Made in NY Writers Room, a program that provides mentorship, industry access and financial support to underrepresented writers who live in New York City and seek to tell stories that are not often depicted on television. The program is a joint effort with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the city’s Department of Small Business Services.
This year’s 10 fellows, who will each receive a $10,800 stipend, are playwright Harron Atkins, showrunner’s assistant Yasmine Cadet, writer’s production assistant Joseph Capuana, writer and storyboard artist Michael Lee, writer Catherine Loerke, comedy promo writer Vincent Lopez, comedian Jordan Mendoza, playwright and librettist Jerome Parker, children’s television writer Michael Rodrigue, and entertainment journalist Pilot Viruet. More than half of the inaugural group of fellows are actively working in the industry.
“We are very pleased...
This year’s 10 fellows, who will each receive a $10,800 stipend, are playwright Harron Atkins, showrunner’s assistant Yasmine Cadet, writer’s production assistant Joseph Capuana, writer and storyboard artist Michael Lee, writer Catherine Loerke, comedy promo writer Vincent Lopez, comedian Jordan Mendoza, playwright and librettist Jerome Parker, children’s television writer Michael Rodrigue, and entertainment journalist Pilot Viruet. More than half of the inaugural group of fellows are actively working in the industry.
“We are very pleased...
- 6/12/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
"Moonlight" writer-director Barry Jenkins will direct a biopic about late African-American iconic choreographer, Alvin Ailey.?Julian Breece is writing the script.
Film studio Fox Searchlight first announced the project in March 2018, saying it had the support of the Ailey Organisation. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is producing with Susan Lewis through her Ak Worldwide production company, along with Judy Kinberg, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum from iDeal Partners, as per reports.
Ailey, who was raised in rural Texas by a single mother, founded the interracial Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York in 1958 and helped popularise modern dance. His "Revelations" became one of the most-performed modern dance pieces in history.
Ailey received the Kennedy Centre Honours in 1988, a year before he died at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, former Us President Barack Obama selected Ailey to be a posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The project includes...
Film studio Fox Searchlight first announced the project in March 2018, saying it had the support of the Ailey Organisation. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is producing with Susan Lewis through her Ak Worldwide production company, along with Judy Kinberg, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum from iDeal Partners, as per reports.
Ailey, who was raised in rural Texas by a single mother, founded the interracial Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York in 1958 and helped popularise modern dance. His "Revelations" became one of the most-performed modern dance pieces in history.
Ailey received the Kennedy Centre Honours in 1988, a year before he died at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, former Us President Barack Obama selected Ailey to be a posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The project includes...
- 6/4/2019
- GlamSham
“Moonlight” writer-director Barry Jenkins will direct a biopic about iconic choreographer Alvin Ailey.
Fox Searchlight first announced the project in March 2018, saying it had the support of the Ailey Organization. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is producing with Susan Lewis through her Ak Worldwide production company, along with Judy Kinberg, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum from iDeal Partners. The untitled project is a co-production between Ak Worldwide, iDeal Partners and Jenkins’ Pastel. Jenkins will be an executive producer alongside Jana Edelbaum and Susan Lewis.
Julian Breece is writing the script. Ailey, who was raised in rural Texas by a single mother, founded the interracial Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City in 1958 and helped popularize modern dance. His “Revelations” became one of the most-performed modern dance pieces in history.
Ailey received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988, a year before he died at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, President...
Fox Searchlight first announced the project in March 2018, saying it had the support of the Ailey Organization. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is producing with Susan Lewis through her Ak Worldwide production company, along with Judy Kinberg, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum from iDeal Partners. The untitled project is a co-production between Ak Worldwide, iDeal Partners and Jenkins’ Pastel. Jenkins will be an executive producer alongside Jana Edelbaum and Susan Lewis.
Julian Breece is writing the script. Ailey, who was raised in rural Texas by a single mother, founded the interracial Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City in 1958 and helped popularize modern dance. His “Revelations” became one of the most-performed modern dance pieces in history.
Ailey received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988, a year before he died at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, President...
- 6/3/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Barry Jenkins will direct the untitled Fox Searchlight biopic based on the life of one of dance’s most influential choreographers and a seminal figure in the African American culture, Alvin Ailey.
Jenkins most recently garnered a best adapted screenplay Oscar nomination last year for his work translating James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk” to the screen. The film, produced and distributed by Annapurna, also earned Regina King her first Academy Award for best supporting actress.
The director of course won best picture at the Oscars two years for his breakout film “Moonlight,” which also took home awards for best adapted screenplay — written by Jenkins, based on the play by Tarell Alvin McCraney — and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali.
Also Read: Barry Jenkins Amazon Drama 'Underground Railroad' Casts 3 Leads
Fox Searchlight, now under the Walt Disney umbrella, inked its deal last year with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater...
Jenkins most recently garnered a best adapted screenplay Oscar nomination last year for his work translating James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk” to the screen. The film, produced and distributed by Annapurna, also earned Regina King her first Academy Award for best supporting actress.
The director of course won best picture at the Oscars two years for his breakout film “Moonlight,” which also took home awards for best adapted screenplay — written by Jenkins, based on the play by Tarell Alvin McCraney — and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali.
Also Read: Barry Jenkins Amazon Drama 'Underground Railroad' Casts 3 Leads
Fox Searchlight, now under the Walt Disney umbrella, inked its deal last year with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater...
- 6/3/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Oscar winner Barry Jenkins is preparing his return to the big screen after last year’s “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Deadline reports that the “Moonlight” and “Medicine for Melancholy” filmmaker has been set to direct Fox Searchlight’s currently untitled film based on the life of celebrated choreographer Alvin Ailey.
The outlet reports that the speciality hub of Fox struck a deal with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater just last year, “which granted full cooperation from the organization that controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography.” The package also includes the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s biography “Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance.” Searchlight and the film’s producers will reportedly work closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita, Judith Jamison, “to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen.”
Rising screenwriter Julian Breece will write the script for the film. The “Buppies” creator...
The outlet reports that the speciality hub of Fox struck a deal with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater just last year, “which granted full cooperation from the organization that controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography.” The package also includes the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s biography “Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance.” Searchlight and the film’s producers will reportedly work closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita, Judith Jamison, “to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen.”
Rising screenwriter Julian Breece will write the script for the film. The “Buppies” creator...
- 6/3/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Barry Jenkins has been set by Fox Searchlight to direct its untitled film based on the life of Alvin Ailey, one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th Century.
Searchlight made a deal early last year with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater which granted full cooperation from the organization that controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography. The package also included the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s seminal biography Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance. Fox Searchlight and the producers will be working closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita, Judith Jamison, to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen.
Setting Jenkins is a coup for the studio. The filmmaker won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Best Picture-winner Moonlight, his breakout film for which he was also nominated for Best Director. Most recently, he was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay...
Searchlight made a deal early last year with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater which granted full cooperation from the organization that controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography. The package also included the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s seminal biography Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance. Fox Searchlight and the producers will be working closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita, Judith Jamison, to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen.
Setting Jenkins is a coup for the studio. The filmmaker won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Best Picture-winner Moonlight, his breakout film for which he was also nominated for Best Director. Most recently, he was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay...
- 6/3/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Starz has put in development Kin, a multi-generational family drama from writer Davita Scarlett and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.
Kin follows three generations of women who are thrust together when their dynamic and controversial matriarch moves back to town. The series is a compelling and complex exploration of racial identity, integrity and the notion that blood is thicker than water.
Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter (Are You Sleeping) will serve as executive producers for Hello Sunshine alongside Scarlett who developed the project with Chester Jones III (Hey Diddle Diddle).
“The opportunity to work in partnership with Davita Scarlett as well as Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine on this series is serendipitous,” said Carmi Zlotnik, President of Programming for Starz. “Hello Sunshine puts women at the forefront of the stories they are telling, and that fits perfectly into Starz’ overall programming strategy...
Kin follows three generations of women who are thrust together when their dynamic and controversial matriarch moves back to town. The series is a compelling and complex exploration of racial identity, integrity and the notion that blood is thicker than water.
Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter (Are You Sleeping) will serve as executive producers for Hello Sunshine alongside Scarlett who developed the project with Chester Jones III (Hey Diddle Diddle).
“The opportunity to work in partnership with Davita Scarlett as well as Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine on this series is serendipitous,” said Carmi Zlotnik, President of Programming for Starz. “Hello Sunshine puts women at the forefront of the stories they are telling, and that fits perfectly into Starz’ overall programming strategy...
- 2/21/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine banner has inked a deal with Starz to develop “Kin,” Variety has learned.
The multi-generational family drama comes from “Queen Sugar” and “Constantine” writer Davita Scarlett, who developed the project with Chester Jones III. Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine film and TV head Lauren Neustadter are on board as executive producers alongside Scarlett.
“The opportunity to work in partnership with Davita Scarlett as well as Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine on this series is serendipitous,” Starz president of programming Carmi Zlotnik said in a statement. “Hello Sunshine puts women at the forefront of the stories they are telling, and that fits perfectly into Starz’s overall programming strategy to offer compelling content that appeals to female audiences.”
Witherspoon described Scarlett’s script as “utterly original, complex, and incredibly nuanced.”
“She deftly explores issues around identity and the secrets family members keep to protect themselves and one another.
The multi-generational family drama comes from “Queen Sugar” and “Constantine” writer Davita Scarlett, who developed the project with Chester Jones III. Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine film and TV head Lauren Neustadter are on board as executive producers alongside Scarlett.
“The opportunity to work in partnership with Davita Scarlett as well as Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine on this series is serendipitous,” Starz president of programming Carmi Zlotnik said in a statement. “Hello Sunshine puts women at the forefront of the stories they are telling, and that fits perfectly into Starz’s overall programming strategy to offer compelling content that appeals to female audiences.”
Witherspoon described Scarlett’s script as “utterly original, complex, and incredibly nuanced.”
“She deftly explores issues around identity and the secrets family members keep to protect themselves and one another.
- 2/21/2019
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Starz has acquired the crime drama series Dublin Murders from Fremantle. The eight-episode series is adapted from Tana French’s first two novels in the Dublin Murder Squad crime series, In The Woods and The Likeness.
The atmospheric, psychological thriller, which is currently in production in Belfast and Dublin, is adapted by series creator and writer Sarah Phelps and stars Killian Scott (C.B. Strike) and Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful).
Dublin Murders follows Rob Reilly (Scott) – a smart-suited detective whose English accent marks him as an outsider – who is dispatched to investigate the murder of a young girl on the outskirts of Dublin with his partner, Cassie Maddox (Greene). Against his better judgment and protected by his friendship with Cassie, he is pulled back into another case of missing children and forced to confront his own darkness. As the case intensifies, Rob and Cassie’s relationship is tested to the...
The atmospheric, psychological thriller, which is currently in production in Belfast and Dublin, is adapted by series creator and writer Sarah Phelps and stars Killian Scott (C.B. Strike) and Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful).
Dublin Murders follows Rob Reilly (Scott) – a smart-suited detective whose English accent marks him as an outsider – who is dispatched to investigate the murder of a young girl on the outskirts of Dublin with his partner, Cassie Maddox (Greene). Against his better judgment and protected by his friendship with Cassie, he is pulled back into another case of missing children and forced to confront his own darkness. As the case intensifies, Rob and Cassie’s relationship is tested to the...
- 12/3/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
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