Len Wiseman Inks Overall Deal With 20th Century Fox TV

EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of Fox’s Sleepy Hollow receiving a second-season pickup, the series’ co-creator/executive producer Len Wiseman has signed a two-year overall deal with the studio behind the hot freshman, 20th Century Fox TV. Under the pact, Wiseman will continue as an executive producer on Sleepy Hollow while developing new projects through his production company Sketch Films, run by head of development David Bernardi. Wiseman has played a key role in the pickup and success of Sleepy Hollow. While the script — written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Phillip Iscove and Wiseman — made the cut to pilot, it was Wiseman’s direction that propelled the pilot to the list of frontrunners, with Fox chairman Kevin Reilly calling the finished product the biggest surprise of the network’s pilot season. The series’ visual style also has been lauded by critics and fans as one of its top draws. “Len brilliantly directed and produced the Sleepy Hollow pilot and truly helped define the series,” said 20th TV chairman Gary Newman. “We knew the minute he delivered the first cut that this was a gifted artist we wanted to be in business with long term. This deal keeps him in the family and creatively involved in this important show for us, while also giving him the ability to create, direct and produce other projects as well.” Sleepy Hollow is the second time Wiseman has directed a pilot, with both projects going to series and showing staying power with renewals. The first was CBS’ Hawaii Five-0, with that series now in its fourth season. Wiseman, whose feature credits include the Underworld franchise and Live Free Or Die Hard, is repped by CAA and Howard Abramson.

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