Press Release
IDW Entertainment, the newly launched division of comic book powerhouse IDW Publishing (IDW), and leading 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 today 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.
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 catalog 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 exciting 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.
About IDW Entertainment:
IDW Entertainment launched in November 2013 to fund and develop film and television properties based on IDW’s extensive catalog. The division is currently in development on a slate of properties including Life Undead, with showrunner Paul Zbyszewski (S.H.I.E.L.D., Hawaii Five-O, Lost) attached; Brooklyn Animal Control, based on the darkly thrilling comic from writer/director J.T. Petty (Splinter Cell, Hellbenders); and V Wars. IDW also has several active theatrical projects in development: Lore, at Warner Bros. with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson set to star; World War Robot, with Jerry Bruckheimer producing at Disney and Jon Spaihts writing the screenplay; and Zombies vs. Robots, at Sony with Platinum Dunes and Circle of Confusion producing.
About Entertainment One (eOne):
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE: ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Spain, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 35,000 film and television titles, 2,800 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Paramount’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; 2000AD’s Judge Dredd; The Rocketeer; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio, and the multiple award-winning Artist’s Edition imprint.
IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot; Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Warner Brothers are producing a film based on Ashley Wood’s Lore; Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film, Kurtzman/Orci are producing a movie based on Locke & Key at Universal.
