Chris Morgan Launches TV Company, Signs Pod Deal With 20th Century Fox Television
EXCLUSIVE: After making a successful expansion into television, feature writer Chris Morgan is setting up TV shop. Morgan is launching a TV offshoot of his Chris Morgan Prods., which will be housed at 20th Century Fox TV with a two-year pod deal. Under the pact, Morgan will write and produce new series for the studio, as well as supervise other writers and develop projects for all networks.
Morgan, writer of the hit Fast And Furious movie franchise, first tested the TV waters this development season when he sold a few projects, two of which, Gang Related at Fox and Big Thunder at ABC, went to pilot. What’s more, both pilots have been garnering strong early buzz and appear strong contenders for series orders. Morgan wrote and executive produces Gang Related and co-wrote the story and executive produces Big Thunder. He has been in first position on Gang Related, which is produced by 20th Century Fox TV. The pilot was directed by Allen Hughes and stars Ramon Rodriguez, Terry O’Quinn and RZA.
After such a “fast & furious” start in TV, Morgan was pursued by multiple TV studios for a deal but opted to go with 20th TV because of what he said was “an amazing experience” with the studio’s executives during the development and production of Gang Related. “I have big goals in television, and I look forward to achieving them with the studio as my creative partner,” Morgan added.
20th’s decision to seek a formal deal with Morgan also stemmed from the studio’s “fantastic experience” with him on Gang Related, 20th TV chairman Dana Walden said. “Chris’ films are exciting, action-driven character pieces that are both wildly popular and incredibly entertaining. He’s a talent magnet, and his relationships with actors, writers and directors are second to none. He’s not just inventive and collaborative, he’s also a really great guy.”
On the feature side, Chris Morgan Prods. has a first-look deal with Universal. Morgan has written the third through seventh installments of Universal’s Fast & Furious franchise. Fast & Furious 6, which Morgan also executive produced, comes out on May 24, with the seventh film set for a July 11, 2014, release. His upcoming projects under the Universal pact include Crime Of The Century, a pitch from Daniel Kunka with Dan Trachtenberg set to direct; The Legend Of Conan; and an adaptation of the book Bird Box. He is repped by ICM Partners and attorney Jeff Frankel.
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