Wilt Chamberlain Feature Doc In The Works From Kevin Garnett & Village Roadshow As Part Of First-Look Deal

Bodyguard creator Jed Mercurio and his HTM Television partner, Episodes and Flack producer Jimmy Mulville, have struck a first-look deal with 20th Television.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJed Mercurio and Jimmy Mulville’s HTM Television has signed a multi-year first-look deal with 20th Television.Mercurio’s latest series, “Bodyguard” and “Line of Duty,” have both broke ratings records for UK television drama.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterWonwoo Park, the creator of “The Masked Singer” format, has signed a first-look deal with Fox Alternative Entertainment.Under the deal, Fox and Park’s Seoul-based production company, dI turn, will jointly develop series for global territories and the American market.

The Masked Singer creator Wonwoo Park has signed a first-look development deal with Fox Alternative Entertainment and has set his sights on his first project.

EXCLUSIVE: STXfilms has entered into a first-look film deal with CrossCheck Studios, the production company founded this year by internet entrepreneur and mega-influencer Josh Richards and co-presidents Michael Gruen and Chris Sawtelle.

Apple TV+ has signed John Skipper and Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media to a first-look deal. Under the multiyear agreement, Meadowlark will produce premium documentary films and unscripted series for Apple TV+.Skipper and Le Batard formed Meadlowlark Media in January, following Le Betard’s exit from ESPN.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJohn Skipper and Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Apple.Under the deal, Meadowlark will produce documentary and unscripted series for the streamer. Meadowlark was launched in January, with the company at that time announcing an initial focus on sports content.

Former ESPN colleagues John Skipper and Dan Le Batard (Highly Questionable, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz) are getting into business with Apple TV+. Skipper and Le Batard have signed a multi-year first-look deal with the Apple streaming service via their recently launched Meadowlark Media. Under the pact, Meadowlark will produce premium documentary films and unscripted series for Apple TV+.

Alyssa Milano has signed a a first-look production and writing deal with A+E Studios, president Barry Jossen said Thursday.The actor, producer, host, activist, entrepreneur, humanitarian and New York Times best-selling author will write and produce projects for A+E Studios for sale on all global and domestic television platforms and services.A+E Studios had acquired Milano’s pilot script “Things I’m Seeing Without You,” which she adapted based on the young adult novel by Peter Bognanni.

Selome Hailu editorA+E Studios has inked a first look production and writing deal with Alyssa Milano.Milano, an actor, producer, author, entrepreneur and activist, will write and produce projects for the studio for sale on global and domestic television platforms and services.

Alyssa Milano is expanding her relationship with A+E Studios with a first-look production and writing deal. Under the pact, Milano will write and produce projects for A+E Studios for sale on all global and domestic television platforms and services.

Stephen Colbert is staying in business with CBS Studios.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorStephen Colbert’s Spartina Productions banner has set a three-year first-look deal to develop television and streaming content for CBS Studios.Colbert, host of CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” is a principal in the company along side Evelyn McGee Colbert, who is married to Stephen Colbert.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterNancy Utley, the veteran movie executive who ran Searchlight Pictures, has launched a new content label and secured a first-look arrangement with Chernin Entertainment.Utley’s Lake Ellyn Entertainment will produce film and television for Chernin, whose own first-look pact with Netflix will now include work from Utley.

EXCLUSIVE: Alumni Pros Global Sports (APGS) has set an exclusive partnership with David Steward II’s Lion Forge Animation studio (Hair Love), making Lion Forge Animation the official partner and producer of all animated content conceived by the hundreds of professional athletes within the APGS network.

Jeff Friday Media, the company that organizes the American Black Film Festival, has struck a first-look deal with WarnerMedia.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor“Hamilton” Tony nominee Christopher Jackson has signed a first-look deal with CBS Studios to produce across all platforms, including broadcast, streaming and premium cable.“I’m looking forward to continuing my partnership with CBS in this new capacity,” Jackson, whose work as George Washington in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” earned him Tony and Grammy nominations in 2016, tells me exclusively.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRandall Einhorn and his Sad Unicorn banner have moved to Warner Bros. Television with a multi-year first-look deal, Variety has learned exclusively.Einhorn previously had an overall deal at ABC Signature.

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.