Jennifer Todd Inks First-Look Deal With MGM

Respect is one of the most anticipated performances of the year⁠—and now we have a preview of what's to come.The first full trailer for Respect premiered during the 2020 BET Awards on Sunday night, June 28, and let's just say Hudson has another awards season sweep on her hands. From these two minutes alone, it's clear Hudson has nailed the heart, passion, and drive of Franklin, a.k.a the Queen of Soul.

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVEXCLUSIVE: Miramax has closed an overall TV deal with Emmy-nominated Nurse Jackie co-creator/executive producer/co-showrunner Liz Brixius.

Also Read: River Road Entertainment Taps MACRO Producer Kim Roth as Chief Creative Officer“One of the most important aspects of what we do at MACRO is to identify and uplift Black voices in front of and behind the camera,” added MACRO TV Studios president Marta Fernandez who is overseeing both series for the studio. “Kevin is an exciting new producer with fresh ideas and a point of view not always put forward in television.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKevin Jordan has signed a first look deal with MACRO Television Studios, Variety has learned exclusively.“Right now we’re in a creative renaissance of storytelling in television and film, at a point in history where audiences are demanding to see the many Black and Brown stories that have not been told before,” Jordan said.

Jamie Lang MGM Television’s Unscripted & Alternative and Orion Television have closed a first look deal with Tim Crescenti’s L.A.-based Small World IFT, which grants MGM exclusive first look access at all international formats sourced by the firm. Scot Cru, executive VP of global formats and unscripted content at MGM brokered the deal.Founded in 2005, Small World IFT has developed one of the industry’s strongest track records for bringing international formats into the U.S.

Peter White Television EditorEXCLUSIVE: MGM Television is searching out international formats with U.S.

Big (1988)The fantasy comedy film directed by the late Penny Marshall stars Tom Hanks as a tween turned into an adult after he makes a wish "to be big." Somehow hs faking his own kidnapping doesn't become a national panic.The Little Rascals (1994)Based on the short films about rebellious kids from the 1930s, this 1994 movie keeps the nostalgic feeling of the original as it follows the exploits of Spanky, Alfalfa, and whole lovable gang.Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018)A big-screen adaptation

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorSalma Hayek has signed a two-year first-look deal with HBO Max. As part of the pact, the actress, producer, director and Oscar nominee will first bring projects to the WarnerMedia-owned streaming service for potential development via her Ventanarosa production company.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSalma Hayek and her production company, Ventanarosa, have signed a two-year first-look deal with HBO Max.Under the deal, Hayek will bring projects to HBO Max first for potential development. Jose Tamez, president of Ventanarosa, will serve as her producing partner.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorSpotify continues to bulk up its podcast roster, signing a deal with Kim Kardashian West for an exclusive series looking at a case involving criminal-justice reform.A Spotify spokesman confirmed the company’s deal with Kardashian West and TV producer Lori Rothschild Ansaldi for the podcast, to be made available exclusively on the Spotify platform.

Also Read: 'Hair Love' Director Matthew A Cherry Signs First-Look Deal With Warner Bros TelevisionProductions will be executive produced by Imagine Kids+Family president Stephanie Sperber and Lion Forge Animation president Carl Reed and founder David Steward II.“I have admired Carl and David for their originality and unique storytelling for years. They are visionary content creators and cross-platform franchise incubators,” Sperber said in a statement.

Also Read: Peter Roth Promoted to Become First-Ever Chairman of Warner Bros Television GroupCherry will produce any series out of the deal via his company, Cherry Lane Productions, in association with one of WBTVG’s various units — Warner Bros. Television, Warner Horizon Scripted Television, Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMatthew Cherry has signed a first-look development deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.Cherry is best known for his Academy Award-winning project “Hair Love,” an animated short film about an African-American father attempting to do his daughter’s hair for the first time.Under terms of the multi-year deal, Cherry will develop new television programming for all platforms, including cable and streaming.

Peter White Television EditorThe team behind Oscar-winning animated short Hair Love are in hot demand today after Warner Bros Television Group inked a first-look deal with director Matthew A.

Peter White Television EditorEXCLUSIVE: Imagine Kids+Family is partnering with Lion Forge Animation, the company behind 2019 Oscar-winning animated short film Hair Love after the two companies struck a first-look deal.The division of Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s company will partner with David Steward II’s business to co-develop short-form project, TV series and digital stories.Lion Forge Animation, which launched less than a year ago, produced Hair Love, the animated short directed by Matthew

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentMGM has struck an exclusive two-year first-look TV deal with Gideon Tadmor’s leading Israeli production company Tadmor Entertainment.Under the new pact, MGM/UA Television and MGM International TV will work closely with Tadmor Entertainment CEO Emilio Schenker to develop and co-produce original scripted series across a variety of genres.

Peter White Television EditorMGM has struck a first-look television deal with Israeli production company Tadmor Entertainment, founded by oil and gas entrepreneur Gideon Tadmor.The deal will see The Handmaid’s Tale producer develop and co-produce original scripted series for global audiences with the company, which has offices in LA, New York and Israel.

Also Read: New 'Fiddler on the Roof' Movie in the Works at MGM From 'Hamilton' Director Thomas Kail“The opportunity to make films with Jennifer is hugely exciting to us both and we are beyond thrilled she is joining us here,” Abdy added in a statement.“I started my career producing films for Mike and am thrilled to have the opportunity again.