‘Primo’ Creator Shea Serrano Inks Overall Television Deal With Amazon Studios; First-Look Podcast Deal With Wondery

Angelique Jackson On the heels of winning a Peabody Award for the Showtime docuseries “We Need to Talk About Cosby,” W. Kamau Bell has launched a new production company, Who Knows Best, and inked an overall deal with Boardwalk Pictures. Bell, an Emmy-winning producer, director, host and comedian, founded Who Knows Best Productions (WKB), an Oakland-based company, with the mission of “fostering a diverse creative community and telling revolutionary non-fiction stories by any medium necessary.” WKB launches with a multi-year overall deal with Boardwalk Pictures (the award-winning production company behind “Chef’s Table,” “Cheer” and “Welcome to Wrexham”) after the parties partnered on the critically acclaimed four-part documentary “We Need to Talk About Cosby.”

EXCLUSIVE: Wilmer Valderrama’s production company WV Entertainment has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Telemundo’s TPlus brand.

EXCLUSIVE: Oliver Trevena, who recently starred alongside Gerard Butler in Plane, is moving further into unscripted content.

Since they began throwing people around the world into fits of laughter with several Netflix comedy specials and global stand-up tours, fans have become curious about Hannah Gadsby’s net worth.

HBO, Warner Bros. TV, NBCUniversal and other major struck studios will be suspending some first-look and overall deals amid the ongoing writers strike. Sources close to the situation tell Variety that Amazon will be sending letters out Monday notifying those affected. The studio does have some carveouts for creatives who are rendering producing services but non-writing. HBO is said to be making calls to alert the individuals, but formal letters have not been sent yet. On May 2, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) called for a strike after failing to ink a new deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Picketing quickly ensued in New York City, Los Angeles and Atlanta and several productions were shut down due to the strike.

EXCLUSIVE: With the Frasier sequel series for Paramount+ wrapping production, star and executive producer Kelsey Grammer and his Grammnet NH Productions has closed a first-look television deal with CBS Studios, the studio behind the Cheers/Frasier franchise.

Amazon Freevee has greenlit its own reality series “The GOAT,” which will feature veteran reality stars from “The Bachelor,” “The Circle,” “Vanderpump Rules,” “Love Is Blind” and more.“The GOAT” comes from the producers of “The Bachelor” and “FBoy Island,” and the series will test fan favorite reality celebrities from other popular shows through challenges that range from mental and physical to social. Fourteen alums of other reality competitions will enter “The Goat,” but only one will come out on top to win a cash prize, and the title of GOAT (greatest of all time) along with America’s respect.Daniel Tosh (“Tosh 2.0) will host the series, which began production in Atlanta last month.Season 1 will feature the celebrity cast of Tayshia Adams from “The Bachelor,” Joe Amabile from “The Bachelor and “Dancing with the Stars,” Kristen Doute from “Vanderpump Rules,” Reza Farahan from “Shahs of Sunset,” CJ Franco from “FBoy Island,” Wendell Holland from “Survivor,” Teck Holmes from “The Real World” and “The Challenge,” Justin Johnson/Alyssa Edwards from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Paola Mayfield from “90 Day Fiancé,” Da’Vonne Rogers from “Big Brother” and “The Challenge,” Joey Sasso from “The Circle” and “Perfect Match,” Jason Smith from “Holiday Baking Championship,” Lauren Speed-Hamilton from “Love Is Blind,” and Jill Zaren from “The Real Housewives of New York City.”“The Goat” is executive produced by Elan Gale and Bill Dixon, who have previously executive produced “The Bachelor” and “FBoy Island.” Anthony Anderson, Lee Eisenberg, Michael Friedman, Howard T.

EXCLUSIVE: The invitation list to Amazon’s Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon wedding comedy, You’re Cordially Invited, continues to expand with Celia Weston, Jimmy Tatro, Leanne Morgan, and Keyla Monterroso Mejia joining the Nick Stoller directed and written feature.

EXCLUSIVE: Insecure alumna Yvonne Orji has signed a two-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television. Under the pact, the Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, writer, author and producer will develop scripted drama and comedy series for cable and streaming. There is a possibility for her to star in any of the projects she develops for the studio.

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino are setting their sights on the world of competitive ballet.

EXCLUSIVE: Toni Braxton is extending her decade-long relationship with Lifetime and A+E. The Grammy-winning singer, actress, executive producer and entrepreneur has entered into a production deal, in which her Braxtoni Productions will oversee and executive produce multiple projects for the network. The production company will be headquartered at Lifetime’s LA offices.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Jensen Ackles, Danneel Ackles, and their production company Chaos Machine are entering a first-look TV deal at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively. The Ackles and Chaos Machine were previously under a first-look deal at Warner Bros. Television. It was reported in October 2022 that they had extended the WBTV deal for another two years, but they have now exited that deal for Amazon. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the Ackles and WBTV parted ways on good terms and any projects Chaos Machine had in development with their now former studio home remain in the works. The WBTV deal was solely a producing deal, while the Amazon deal covers both acting and producing.

Boxoffice Company has agreed to launch showtimes, ticketing and technology for a number of popular theater chains using its Boost platform. The deal, announced Thursday, includes B&B Theaters, GCR Cinemas, Cinépolis USA, Everyman Cinemas and Landmark Theatres. The deal now brings more than 100 new theater chains in total under the purview of the company for its respective digital needs.

Paramount Pictures has renewed a first-look deal with Todd Garner. The head of Broken Road Productions first signed a production pact with the studio in 2018.

Paramount Pictures has renewed a first-look deal with Todd Garner’s Broken Road Productions, one which the producer has had since 2018.

K.J. Yossman Factual production and distribution company Big Media has inked a three-year, multi-series output deal with RTL Germany’s free-to-air channel NTV. The first series under the deal will be a five-part series titled “Deadliest Weapons Declassified,” which explores the most destructive weapons ever developed by mankind and features interviews from spies, special operators, military contractors, and weapons manufacturers. The series also includes CGI, archival footage and dramatic re-enactments. It is set to air on NTV in spring 2024. The deal follows the broadcast of Big Media’s “Destruction Decoded” – a science-base series about some of the world’s most terrifying natural disasters – on NTV last month, which delivered high ratings. The company is now negotiating with other European broadcasters for similar output deals.

Paramount Pictures has renewed its multi-year, first-look film deal with Temple Hill Entertainment, the producer of their smash fall horror hit Smile which grossed over $200M WW and netted a $101M profit for the Melrose Ave. lot.

Paramount Pictures has renewed its multiyear first-look film deal with Temple Hill Entertainment, the studio announced on Monday.Under the terms of the agreement, Temple Hill Entertainment will continue to develop films for the studio and its label Paramount Players. On the television side, Temple Hill remains under a first-look deal with Lionsgate.The first-look film deal renewal comes on the heels of the critically acclaimed horror thriller “Smile,” from Paramount Pictures and Temple Hill, which earned more than $200 million at the global box office.“Temple Hill has a proven track record for making films that truly connect with people.

$8.45 billion acquisition of MGM that the company plans to develop TV or film projects around, including “Robocop,” “Stargate” “Legally Blonde,” “Fame,” Barbershop,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “Pink Panther” and “The Thomas Crown Affair.”A source familiar with the matter confirmed to TheWrap that the company is in active early conversations for a “Legally Blonde” movie and potential TV series. Additionally, Amazon has similar plans for “Stargate” under consideration, with a movie expected to go first.