Amazon Signs First-Look Deal With Former Sundance Exec Bird Runningwater

Selome Hailu editorNetflix has acquired “The Henna Artist,” a series being developed by Sri Rao as an adaptation of Alka Joshi’s novel of the same name.Freida Pinto will star in and executive produce “The Henna Artist,” which is set in 1950s Jaipur, India and follows Lakshmi (Pinto) as the city’s most in-demand henna artist.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has taken in for development The Henna Artist, a series based on Alka Joshi’s bestselling debut novel from Miramax TV, with Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) attached to star and executive produce and Michael Edelstein executive producing. The project will be written and executive produced by Sri Rao as part of a first-look deal Rao has signed with Netflix.

Reservoir has signed Emeli Sandé to a new publishing deal covering her upcoming new album and future works.“I’m very excited to have signed with Reservoir”, says Sandé. “It feels great to join their impressive roster.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterVillage Roadshow has signed NBA star Kevin Garnett to a first-look partnership, which will span television, film and digital content.Garnett runs Content Cartel Studios with partners Brian Bennett and Mike Marangu. The first project up at the global-facing company is a feature documentary on hall of famer Wilt Chamberlain, who holds two NBA championships and in 1962 became the only player to score 100 points in a single game.

Former NBA star Kevin Garnett’s Content Cartel Studios has struck a first-look deal with Village Roadshow Entertainment and the two companies have set a feature documentary about Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain as their first project.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentTresor, a leading German production banner owned by Keshet International, has signed an exclusive first-look deal with MGM Television’s global division to access their non-scripted formats in Germany. Under the one-year deal, which kicks off this month, Tresor will get an exclusive window on all new non-scripted formats in MGM’s Global Formats catalogue.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSwedish video game publisher Raw Fury has entered into a first-look deal with dj2 Entertainment, Variety has learned exclusively.Under the terms of the deal, dj2 will get the first opportunity to develop film and TV projects based on Raw Fury games.

The world is getting its first look at Timothée Chalamet as a young Willy Wonka.

delivered by Gene Wilder in his portrayal of Wonka in the 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl's iconic novel.A post shared by Timothée Chalamet (@tchalamet)It was first announced in May that Chalamet was set to play the iconic chocolate maker and candy inventor in a new origin film from Warner Bros. and The Roald Dahl Story Co.

EXCLUSIVE: Eugenio Derbez and 3Pas Studios—run by Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell— inked a first-look deal with Univision to create original scripted and unscripted Spanish-language projects for Univision’s global streaming SVOD content slate set to launch in 2022.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam Catlin has signed an overall deal at Apple, Variety has learned.Under the deal, Catlin will develop and produce scripted television projects for Apple under his Short Drive Entertainment banner along with his producing partner, Tiffany Prasifka.Catlin most recently served as showrunner, and executive producer, and co-creator of AMC series “Preacher.” He developed the show alongside Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Brothers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James have struck a first-look deal with Boat Rocker, ahead of starring in the company’s upcoming series “Invasion” and “Beacon 23,” respectively. The two will develop and produce original television projects via their Bay Mills Studios production banner.

Boat Rocker is expanding its relationship with brothers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, stars of Boat Rocker’s anticipated series Invasion and Beacon 23, respectively, with a first-look deal. Under the pact, the brothers will develop and produce original television projects for the company under their Bay Mills Studios banner.

RuPaul has signed a first-look scripted deal with Sony Pictures Television. Former State Street Pictures executive Jay Marcus has joined RuCo as its head of film and television.Marcus held the same job at State Street.Under the new deal, RuCo will focus on telling queer, character-driven stories, centered around RuPaul’s iconic brand of positivity, empowerment, humor, and music, according to Sony.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShaka King has signed a first-look deal at FX.Under the deal, King will develop new TV projects for FX through his newly launched production company, I’d Watch That.

FX Productions has signed a first-look deal with Shaka King, best known for writing, directing and producing “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Under the agreement, King will develop new TV series for FX through his production company I’d Watch That. Brandon Harris is the company’s president and co-founder.

Judas and the Black Messiah writer-director-producer Shaka King is expanding his work in television, signing a first-look deal with FX Productions. Under the pact, King will develop new TV series for FX through his recently launched production company I’d Watch That, with the company’s co-founder Brandon Harris.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Sopranos” creator David Chase has signed a five year first-look deal with WarnerMedia.News of the deal comes on the day that “The Many Saints of Newark,” a “Sopranos” prequel film written by Chase and Lawrence Konner, is debuting in theaters and on HBO Max. Under his new deal, Chase will develop content for HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros.

Amazon Studios has signed a first-look deal with former Sundance Institute programmer Bird Runningwater.