Los Angeles, California – IDW Entertainment, the newly launched division of comic book publisher IDW Publishing (IDW), and independent studio Entertainment One Television (eOne), have entered into a partnership to co-develop, co-fund and co-produce television series based on IDW’s extensive library of over 300 original properties. The announcement was made on April 1 by David Ozer, President of IDW Entertainment and John Morayniss, CEO, eOne Television.
eOne and IDW will fully fund development of each project with the intent of securing direct-to-series commitments for network and cable television. IDW Publishing CEO Ted Adams and Ozer will serve as Executive Producers on the projects, as will Morayniss and Benedict Carver, eOne’s SVP of Filmed Entertainment, who will oversee the deal on behalf of eOne.
David Ozer
Circle of Confusion will take the lead in driving the creative development and production of all projects with the company’s Rick Jacobs and David Alpert serving as Executive Producers. Circle of Confusion formed a partnership with IDW Entertainment in October 2013 to assist in the development and executive produce the projects of the newly launched entertainment division of IDW Publishing. Circle of Confusion is the Executive Producer of the hit AMC series The Walking Dead, for which eOne handles international distribution.
IDW Entertainment and eOne will jointly represent the U.S. network sales, and eOne will be responsible for the international distribution of programming.
“eOne has a proven track record of developing, producing and distributing premier television programming, and they are the perfect co-development, production and distribution partner for IDW Entertainment as we grow our television business,” commented Ozer. “We look forward to collaborating with eOne and Circle of Confusion to bring our properties to life and anticipate announcing very shortly our first project under the deal.”
“The IDW team brings with them not only an expansive catalogue of captivating titles, but the creative sensibility and instinct for developing their properties into successful franchises,” said Morayniss. “Working with Circle of Confusion further cements this collaborative powerhouse and we look forward to the impressive slate of projects to come.”
Dina Appleton, eOne Television’s SVP of Business and Legal Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of the company, while Darren Trattner of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein, PC negotiated on behalf of IDW.
eOne Television develops, produces, acquires and distributes programming across all genres. eOne handles international distribution for original scripted series from AMC (including upcoming dramas Turn and Halt & Catch Fire) and Sundance Channel (including The Red Road) as well as El Rey Network’s lineup of original scripted programming. The company is the studio and international distributor behind the AMC series Hell on Wheels, and along with Fox International Channels, the international distributor for the zombie-phenomenon, The Walking Dead.
Through strong relationships with broadcasters and content providers, eOne Television International has successfully sold eOne’s original and third-party productions to over 500 broadcasters in 150 countries, including key US networks and international pay TV channels.
