Charlize Theron Inks First-Look Deal With Universal Cable Productions
TCA 2015: Projects already underway for USA Network, Bravo and other outlets
Tim Kenneally | January 15, 2015 @ 11:29 AM
Last Updated: January 15, 2015 @ 6:48 PM
Valerie Macon/Getty Images
Charlize Theron is in business with Universal Cable Productions.
The actress/producer has aligned herself with UCP via a new first-look deal through her Denver and Delilah production banner, Jeff Wachtel, president and chief content officer for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, announced at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday.
Under the deal, Theron and UCP are already working on projects for USA Network, Bravo, NBC and Amazon, Wachtel noted.
Along with the new UCP deal, Denver and Delilah has hired former Epix executive vice president of original programming and development, Laverne McKinnon, to head the scripted television division of the production banner.
“I had the pleasure of working with Charlize recently and was determined to keep working with her once I joined Universal Cable Productions,” Dawn Olmstead, UCP’s executive vice president of development, said of the deal. “Charlize, Beth [Kono], and AJ’s [Dix] taste in material is stellar. I’m thrilled that Laverne has joined forces with them. Together they are rapidly growing an impressive slate of thought provoking stand out shows. I look forward to a fun, smart, and classy ride with this group.”
Added Theron, “Jeff and Dawn are fantastic partners. They are creative, smart and aggressive. They’ve been so supportive of our ambition and slate of projects. We’re excited to be collaborating with them.”
The projects that D&D and UCP are developing include the Andrea Abbate romantic comedy “Diblings,” which is being developed for NBC; and the action thriller “Pandora” for Amazon.
Other previous and upcoming Denver and Delilah projects include “American Express,” “Brain on Fire” and “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.”
Read the full list of projects being developed under the deal below.
“Diblings,” a romantic comedy for NBC written by Andrea Abbate (“Accidentally on Purpose”), about a young, uptight business man and a rebellious purple-haired tattoo artist who will never be together but can’t stand being apart.
“The One,” a dramatic series for Bravo Media written by Roger Wolfson (“Saving Grace,” “The Closer”) that explores what it takes to succeed in the cutthroat world of billionaires and CEO’s through the eyes of those who are often overlooked…the assistants. A young woman and struggling street artist is hired to be the assistant to a visionary but enigmatic tech genius. The surprising relationship that forms between them begins to threaten everything the company has built.
“Pandora,” an action thriller series for Amazon written by Josh Pate (“Legends,” “Surface”), about former CIA agent Pandora whose curiosity unleashes worldwide “sleepers” who are the personification of all evils. As she battles to put the evils “back in the box,” she discovers that this was all architected by someone hell bent on vengeance against her. Jonas Pate (“Aquarius,” “Prime Suspect”) will direct the pilot.
“Mythos” for USA Network written by Spenser Cohen and produced by Anna Halberg is a high stakes, serialized adventure drama that reveals all we believed to be myth, from the Fountain of Youth to Atlantis, to be closely guarded truth, protected by two opposing orders, each with differing agendas for humanity
- Other projects in development with Universal Cable Productions include a blind script deal with comic book writer Greg Rucka, a stop motion animated series based on the wildly popular web series THE MOST POPULAR GIRLS IN SCHOOL, “Get Well Soon” written by Erika Cervantes and based on the book by Julie Halpern with Brendan Deneen from MacMillan Publishing attached to produce, and the novel A LIFE IN MEN by Gina Frangello.
The Scene at TCA: Funny, Frank and Flippant Quotes From the 2015 TV Press Tour (Photos)
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"I am not a bitch. I'm honest. There's a difference." – Constance Zimmer on her "Unreal" TV producer character.
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"When you shake hands with him you can't shake the feeling that this was a guy who admitted to dismembering his neighbor." – Director Andrew Jarecki, on billionaire and accused murderer Robert Durst.
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"We know Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day. Who knows when Jesus was born?" – Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, host of NatGeo's first ever late night show.
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“We have to be careful not to overpromise." – Discovery Channel President David Zaslav on the network's failed anaconda stunt.
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"I'm obviously not a serial murderer in real life. You have to find something human in them you like." – Jamie Dornan on playing a serial killer in "The Fall"
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"The only difference between us and a pair of 14-year-old pyromaniacs is we call the police and fire department to help us." – Mythbusters Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage
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"The most spastic and hilarious human being on the planet." – "Togetherness" creator and writer Jay Duplass, on star Amanda Peet
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"Well, she doesn't always use an axe." – Christina Ricci on whether Lizzie Borden will have any more axes to grind in Lifetime's "Lizzie Borden Chronicles."
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"We want to be your coffee this morning." – Marti Noxon, executive producer of Lifetime's "Unreal," on her pink streaks and matching frock.
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"To be on a horse firing a gun, that's not a bad way to spend your day." – Actor Jeffery Dean Morgan, about working on History Channel's "Texas Rising."
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"It didn't work in Scotland, but it's going to work in Texas." – Texan actor Bill Paxton on History Channel's "Texas Rising" sparking a secessionist movement.
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"I went through the actors directory and everybody else was working." – "Shitt's Creek" Actor and writer Eugene Levy on why he called fellow actor Chris Elliot to join the cast.
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"You come out and what do you see on your podium, is this a good omen? HBO water they’ve served me. That’s great." –AMC president and GM on being served water branded with the competition.
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"Yeah, I’m thrilled that it’s ending. So looking forward to being unemployed for as long as I’ll be unemployed. I’m so happy not to see any of these people ever again. And all of that is really great. Hashtag sarcasm." – AMC's "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm on whether there's any reason he's happy series is ending.
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"The idea at the center of the show is a zombie you can fall in love with... a zombie you want to date. We were calling the show 'ZILFs' at one point" – The CW's "iZombie" showrunner Rob Thomas. on his new show
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"The fans are so polarized in what they are rooting for that to appease all of them, the show would be gobbledygook." – "The Vampire Diaries" executive producer Caroline Dries.
“We should’ve had more women up here today. That’s on me. That’s my fault.” – "Arrow," "The Flash" EP Greg Berlanti on the composition of the panel.
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"It's not a show about religion; it's a show about faith." -– "The Messengers" executive producer Trey Callaway.
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"The gelatin doesn't taste too bad on its own, but covered in fake blood, is disgusting." – star of the upcoming series "iZombie," Rose McIver.
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"[Italia Ricci's] even prettier than Robbie Amell." – Victor Garber talking about his "Flash" co-star's new fiancee.
''We were calling the show 'ZILF,' because the star's a zombie you want to date (the polite way to say it)" – "iZombie" executive producer, Rob Thomas.
"We're most interested in telling stories that tell light in the darkness" – "The Dovekeepers" executive producer Roma Downey Jr.
"Wouldn’t it be nice if all the networks were more representative of the complexions of America?" – Oscar Winner Cuba Gooding Jr., on diversity on television.
"When we did the original 'Odd Couple' we weren't allowed to have women writers." – Director Garry Marshall, on consulting for the CBS "Odd Couple" remake.
"When you start on TV, it's almost fear based. When you start online, you just try stuff" — TMZ founder Harvey Levin on his company's move to television.
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"Funny story, I have no say in anything" — Joe Dirt 2 star David Spade on why he allowed his iconic wig from the first film to be sold.
"We’ve encouraged millions of people to take out wine and popcorn really enjoy what is water cooler television — ABC Entertainment Group chief Paul Lee on the network's "TGIT" programming.
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"Asians have money. If you want their money, make things for them" — "Fresh Off the Boat" creator Eddie Huang on his new show.
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"When something is salacious, how it is presented by the media becomes the perceived 'truth'" — Ryan Phillippe on his new upcoming ABC show "Secrets & Lies."
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"He's uncovering things as [the show] is uncovering things" — actor Milo Ventimiglia on his character in ABC's upcoming "The Whispers."
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"Maybe I've got my wife hidden away in the attic" — actor James D'Arcy on his character Jarvis' unseen spouse in "Agent Carter ."
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"What it would be like if Princess Diana had become Queen of England?" — actress Elizabeth Hurley about the inspiration for her character on E!'s "The Royals."
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“When we realized there was so much more, we realized we couldn’t go forward” — NBC Entertainment chair, Robert Greenblatt, on the network's decision to cancel a Bill Cosby comedy series.
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"Whether people like it or don't like it, I'm not changing. NBC has never said anything to me, once" — "Celebrity Apprentice" host Donald Trump on his unabashed political views.
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“I think by the year 2030 we’re going to have an entire lesbian cast with one token heterosexual. We’re not there yet” — Ellen DeGeneres joking about recent accusations she's been promoting a "gay agenda."
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"It's like playing a human being with a heart, and a sense of humor, and a great collection of blazers" — "One Big Happy" star Elisha Cuthbert on playing a lesbian character.
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"This is a story that millions have died for and billions have lived for" — "AD: The Series" executive producer Mark Burnett, about the follow up to his successfulmini-series, "The Bible."
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TV stars and executives offer pearls of wisdom at the annual Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour