Hiro Murai, Nate Matteson’s Super Frog Inks First-Look Deal With FX

Joe Otterson TV ReporterICM Partners is close to signing a franchise agreement with the Writers Guild of America, Variety has learned from sources.Sources say that the agreement between the agency and the guild would be similar to the one recently signed by UTA in July. Under that deal, UTA agreed to end packaging fees in two years as well as agreeing to disclose financial details around deals they broker for writers, but only at the express consent of those clients.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorNew Republic Pictures has signed Jake Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker’s Nine Stories to a first look feature film production deal.It’s the second first look that New Republic has made in recent weeks, the prior one being with two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and her Dirty Films company.Gyllenhaal and New Republic founder Brian Oliver previously worked together on Universal’s Everest while New Republic President Bradley Fischer collaborated

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has signed a first-look film and television deal with Appian Way, the production company founded by Leonardo DiCaprio.The multi-year deal between covers television projects and features.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNat Geo has set its slate for the fall season, Variety has learned exclusively.Six natural history global series and specials will debut this fall. Those include the digital premiere of the documentary film “Akashinga: The Brave Ones” from three-time Academy Award winner James Cameron and director Maria Wilhelm.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKerry Washington and her Simpson Street production banner have renewed their overall deal with ABC studios for a further three years.“Since its inception, Simpson Street has focused on using art and entertainment to amplify the human experience and weave narratives that honor our unique differences while connecting us through our shared humanity,” said Washington.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJonathan Levine has signed on to direct all eight episodes of the upcoming Hulu series adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s “Nine Perfect Strangers.”Levine will also executive produce the series, which features an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Samara Weaving, Luke Evans, Melvin Gregg, Grace Van Patten, and Tiffany Boone.Levine most recently directed the feature comedy “Long Shot” starring Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDenis Leary has signed a broadcast development deal with Fox Entertainment.Under the deal, Leary and his production company, Amoeba, will develop and produce series for Fox. Leary may also star in any series developed under the agreement, which encompasses comedy, drama, and animation.“Everyone at Amoeba is excited about this partnership and we look forward to creating new, cutting-edge content at Fox,” Leary said.

Will Thorne Staff WriterCookie could be getting her own show.Taraji P.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC is developing a drama series with both Eva Longoria and Forest Whitaker attached as executive producers.Titled “Chicano,” the series is inspired by the novel of the same name Richard Vasquez. It tells the multi-generational story of the Sandovals, a Mexican-American family that immigrates to Los Angeles in pursuit of the American Dream.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerEmmy and Golden Globe winner Elisabeth Moss has launched Love & Squalor Pictures production company and signed a joint first-look deal with Fox 21 Television Studio and Hulu.

Will Thorne Staff WriterElisabeth Moss is making a giant leap into developing and producing her own content.“The Handmaid’s Tale” star has inked a joint first-look deal with the show’s platform Hulu and Fox 21 Television Studios. Moss has also launched her own production company called Love & Squalor Pictures, which will focus on creating TV and film content for all platforms.As part of the deal, Moss is developing an anthology titled “Black Match” for Hulu, in which she will star.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“grown-ish” star and executive producer Yara Shahidi has signed an overall deal with ABC Studios.As part of the deal, Shahidi is forming a production company with her business partner and mother, Keri Shahidi. The company is called 7th Sun.

Will Thorne Staff Writer“Modern Family” star Ty Burrell is staying in the staying in the Disney family.The actor has inked a two-year first-look deal with 20th Century Fox Television, via his newly-launched Desert Whale Productions.

Also Read: How 'Atlanta' and 'This Is America' Director Hiro Murai Mashes Up Comedy and Horror“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with FX as we build our company. They’ve long been advocates of bold, artistic storytelling, and we look forward to making many new projects together,” said Murai and Matteson.Super Frog was founded last year with the goal of developing and producing original feature films, television and alternative content.

Peter White Television EditorSuper Frog, the production company set up by Atlanta director and executive producer Hiro Murai, has inked a first-look deal with FX Productions.The deal covers all scripted and unscripted programming for FX, as well as potentially other divisions of Walt Disney Television.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe creators of “Glee” released a statement on Tuesday regarding the death of series star Naya Rivera.Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan paid tribute to Rivera, who drowned at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California last week.“Naya wasn’t a series regular when we cast her on ‘Glee,'” they wrote. “She didn’t have more than a few lines in the pilot.

Idris Elba is set to produce TV shows and films as part of a first-look deal with bosses at Apple Tv+.The actor will develop original content under his production company, Green Door Pictures.He joins a long list of celebrities who have partnered with executives at the new streaming service, including Oprah Winfrey, Alfonso Cuaron, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Simon Kinberg.Elba has been busy as of late – the Hobbs & Shaw star recently completed production on Ricky Staub’s Concrete Cowboy, The Long

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIdris Elba and his Green Door Pictures production company have signed a first-look deal at Apple, Variety has learned. Under the deal, Elba and Green Door will produce both series and features for Apple’s streaming platform, Apple TV Plus.Elba is an actor, producer, director, and musician.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCate Blanchett and her Dirty Films production company have signed a first-look TV deal with FX Productions.Dirty Films is headed by Blanchett along with Andrew Upton and Coco Francini. News of the deal comes after Blanchett and Francini served as executive producers on the FX on Hulu limited series “Mrs.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPamela Adlon has signed an overall deal with FX Productions. In addition, Adlon’s critically-acclaimed FX series “Better Things” has been renewed for a fifth season.Adlon’s new deal covers all scripted and unscripted programming.