SANTA MONICA, Calif. and
VANCOUVER, British Columbia,
Aug. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- Global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) has
signed an overall television deal with Oscar® and
Emmy® winner Common and his Freedom Road Productions to
develop and produce new television series, it was announced today
by Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs.
The agreement expands Lionsgate's relationship with Common, who
starred in installments of the Company's John
Wick and Now You See Me hit film
franchises. Common's additional film credits include starring roles
in Wanted and Selma, for which he
earned an Academy Award® for the original song
"Glory." He also received an Emmy® for his music in
Ava DuVernay's
Oscar® nominated and Emmy® winning
documentary 13th. Common is currently
starring in and executive producing the hit television
series The Chi on Showtime, and his
upcoming film projects include Warner
Brothers' Smallfoot, FOX's The Hate U
Give, Hunter Killer from Lionsgate's Summit
Entertainment label and indie films Three
Seconds and All About Nina.
"We're thrilled to have the talented multi-hyphenate Common join
our television team along with his longtime manager and producing
partner Derek Dudley, President of
Production Shelby Stone, and
creative executive Melisa Resch,"
said Lionsgate Executive Vice President and Head of Worldwide
Scripted Television Chris Selak. "Common's expertise from working
across all different artistic platforms offers a rich and exciting
creative vision to our group. We look forward to the bold, premium
content Freedom Road Productions will bring to our deep and diverse
television slate."
"I'm proud to expand my relationship with the innovative content
creator Lionsgate," said Common. "The studio offers a
collaborative, creative freedom that is unique in
the entertainment industry, which makes them a perfect partner
for Freedom Road Productions. I'm looking forward to teaming up
with Kevin, Chris and the Lionsgate collective on exciting and
fresh television programming."
Common joins Lionsgate Television's roster of elite creative
talent that includes Dear White People's Justin Simien and Yvette
Bowser, Eric and Kim
Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men), Courtney Kemp (Power), Eugenio Derbez and Ben
O'Dell (Overboard, Instructions Not Included),
Jenny Bicks (Sex and the
City) and Dexter's John
Goldwyn, among others.
Common is represented by UTA, Dudley and attorney David Fox.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global
content platform whose films, television series, digital products
and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation
audiences around the world. In addition to its filmed
entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing
presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming,
virtual reality and other new entertainment
technologies. Lionsgate's content initiatives are backed by a
17,000-title film and television library and delivered through a
global licensing infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is
synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content
created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse
composition of the Company's worldwide consumer base.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cristina Castañeda
CCastaneda@lionsgate.com
(310) 255-5114
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SOURCE Lionsgate