Michael B. Jordan has signed a first-look deal for his production company, Outlier Society, with Warner Bros. Pictures Group, Warner Bros. chairman Toby Emmerich announced Wednesday.
This deal follows the company’s joint production diversity policy instituted last September. The deal also comes on the heels of “Black Panther” being awarded for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and Jordan’s film “Creed II.” The partnership will focus on culturally rich storytelling to provide a platform for the next generation of talent.
“Michael has become a leading voice in a new generation of talent and is creating real change in the industry,” Emmerich said. “His talent is undeniable, and beyond that, his commitment and conviction around representation and inclusion are inspiring–he truly walks the walk. We’re extremely proud to be in business with him and excited about a number of projects on the horizon.”
Kevin Tsujihara, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros, added: “Michael has been part of the WarnerMedia family since starring on ‘The Wire’ for HBO when he was 15-years-old. From our work with him on the two ‘Creed’ films and more recently on ‘Just Mercy,’ we’ve come to know him as someone who is thoughtful, focused and serious about making great films that are representative and inclusive of new voices and new talent on camera and on set. We’re honored that he’s chosen Warner Bros. as his creative home.”
“Warner Bros. is the perfect home for myself, my brilliant president of production Alana Mayo and Outlier Society,” Jordan said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for their visionary leadership and commitment to producing a broad slate of films, which gives us more range and more opportunity as producers. Most importantly, they share my passion for telling unique, creatively-fulfilling stories and giving a voice to the next generation of talent.”
Courtenay Valenti, president of production and development at Warner Bros., worked with Emmerich on the deal along with Jordan’s agency, WME, and attorney Bloom Hergott.
Outlier Society was founded in 2016 and was one of the first companies to adopt the inclusion rider. The clause can be added to contracts for actors and others working on a movie, requiring that the movie’s producers hire a diverse cast and crew. If the movie wasn’t diverse, it would give the actor a legal reason to back out of the contract — meaning the rider could have a serious effect on all the hiring practices on a film.
The company has produced “Fahrenheit 451,” and their forthcoming projects include “The Liberators, “gen:LOCK,” “Raising Dion” and “David Makes Man.”