Ava DuVernay has also flirted with Warner Bros. in the past. The acclaimed filmmaker is working on a big-budget adaptation of the DC comic “New Gods” for the studio, as well as a couple of TV projects. But now, thanks to a new, massive deal, DuVernay can officially make Warner Bros. her home. At least for the TV side of things.
Today, the studio announced that DuVernay signed a multi-year deal with WBTV worth a reported $100 million. That deal ensures that WBTV will be the exclusive destination for all of DuVernay’s various TV-related projects, including drama and comedy series, specials, documentaries, and digital content.
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“I’ve had nothing but beautiful experiences working with Peter Roth, Susan Rovner, and Brett Paul. They love and support artists in wonderful and nourishing ways,” said DuVernay (via Deadline).
She continued, “They work within a traditional studio headed by Kevin Tsujihara that is stirring with untraditional energy and fresh protocols for intentional, inclusive image-making. Warner Bros. is a terrific partner about matters of visibility and belonging for all kinds and cultures of people, which is our mission at Forward Movement. I couldn’t be happier to call Warner Bros. TV my production home.”
Peter Roth, Warner Bros. TV Group President and Chief Content Officer, said, “Ava DuVernay is one of the leading lights in our industry, a brilliantly talented writer, producer, director and entrepreneur whose ability to inspire with her art is exceeded only by her ability to entertain. We have had the great pleasure of working with her on ‘Queen Sugar’ and ‘The Red Line,’ and we are extremely excited about the new stories she has to tell.”
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Unlike a deal with Netflix, Apple, or Amazon, DuVernay’s deal with WBTV means that her content can land on any number of networks or streaming services, which can be seen as an added bonus. Also, since this covers only her TV projects, the deal doesn’t infringe on any of her film work, which includes the aforementioned “New Gods.”
The filmmaker has already produced TV projects with WBTV, including “Queen Sugar” on OWN and the upcoming CBS limited series “Red Line.” In addition to her new deal with WBTV, there’s still a couple project for Netflix that DuVernay is finishing work on without Warners. Those projects, the “Central Park 5” series and the upcoming Prince documentary, are expected to be released sometime in 2019.