‘Shameless’ Producer John Wells to Stay at Warner Bros TV With Massive 9-Figure Deal

New agreement runs through 2024

John Wells
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Veteran producer John Wells is staying with the studio he’s called home since 1986, signing a new five-year overall deal with Warner Bros. TV Group.

The deal is said to be in the nine-figure range, an insider with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap. Warner Bros. declined to reveal financials of the deal. Wells’ deal comes as Warner Bros. parent company, WarnerMedia, is reportedly closing in on a huge film and TV deal with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot.

Along with Showtime’s “Shameless,” Wells is an executive producer on TNT’s “Animal Kingdom” and is known for being behind some of TV’s biggest dramas including “ER,” “Southland” and “The West Wing.”

Under the new deal, which runs through 2024, Wells will continue to develop original projects for multiple platforms, including premium and basic cable channels, on-demand and streaming outlets as well as broadcast networks. This includes psychological horror series “Red Bird Lane,” which is nearing a pilot order at WarnerMedia for its upcoming streaming service.

Additionally, John Wells Productions has “My Ex-Life,” based on Stephen McCauley’s novel, nearing a deal at Apple and “Heart of a Lion,” based on the Finnish film of the same name, nearing a development deal with Showtime. Wells’ company has 10 other projects in various stages of production with no network currently attached.

JWP series will continue to be produced in association with Warner Bros. Television, Warner Horizon Scripted Television or the TV Group’s digital studio, Blue Ribbon Content. Warner Bros. International Television Distribution will distribute the shows globally.

Wells has been with Warner Bros. since beginning his career at the studio as a story editor.

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