Tag Archives: Ted Sarandos

Adrian Martinez to Star in Jerry Seinfeld’s Netflix Comedy “Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story”

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Adrian Martinez has landed a new role…

The Latino actor will appear in Jerry Seinfeld’s Netflix comedy Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story.

Adrian MartinezMartinez joins a roster of cast members that includes Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, Hugh Grant, James Marsden, Jack McBrayer, Tom Lennon, Bobby Moynihan, Max Greenfield, Christian Slater and Sarah Cooper.

In addition to co-writing and directing the film, in his feature debut, Seinfeld is set to star.

Billed as a tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar and menacing milkmen, Unfrosted is set in 1963 Michigan. It will watch as sworn cereal rivals Kellogg’s and Post race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever. Information on the roles to be played by Seinfeld and the newly introduced members of his ensemble has not been disclosed.

Netflix won rights to the film in a competitive situation last year. Seinfeld’s relationship with co-CEO and CCO Ted Sarandos proved helpful in swinging the deal in the direction of the streamer.

The comedian and actor inked a deal worth an estimated $100M with Netflix in 2017, which brought it his popular interview series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, as well as the comedy specials Jerry Before Seinfeld and 23 Hours to Kill. Netflix also last year purchased global rights to stream episodes of Seinfeld’s classic sitcom of the same name for a five-year period.

Seinfeld and Spike Feresten wrote Unfrosted with Andy Robin & Barry Marder. Seinfeld, Feresten and Beau Bauman will produce the film, with Cherylanne Martin, Andy Robin and Barry Marder serving as executive producers.

Martinez is a veteran actor who recently made his feature directorial debut with the drama iGilbert, in which he also stars. He’ll next be seen in the Dracula comedy Renfield from Universal.

Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions Signs Multi-Year First Look Deal with Netflix

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Jennifer Lopez’s got the (first) look…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar’s production company Nuyorican Productions has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix spanning feature films, television series and unscripted content, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez co-runs Nuyorican Productions with her producing partner Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas.

Lopez already has two feature projects in the works at the streamer including the Niki Caro-directed The Mother, and The Cipher, based on the Isabella Maldonado novel.

The Mother follows a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to teach her daughter how to survive. The multi-hyphenate is currently training for the role, with filming schedule for this autumn and the film is set for release in Q4 2022.

“I am excited to announce my new partnership with Netflix. Elaine, Benny (Medina) and I believe there is no better home for us than a forward leaning content creation company that seeks to defy conventional wisdom and directly market to the millions across the globe who no longer view art and entertainment with the kind of boundaries and limitations of the past. We at Nuyorican Productions are thrilled to find like-minded partners in Ted Sarandos, Scott Stuber, Bela Bajaria and the whole team and look forward to getting to work right away,” said Lopez.

“Throughout every aspect of her career, Jennifer Lopez has been a force in entertainment. In partnering with her and Nuyorican we know she will continue to bring impactful stories, joy and inspiration to audiences around the world,” said Netflix Head of Global Films Stuber,

Bajaria, Netflix Head of Global TV, said: “Jennifer is a singular talent whose creativity and vision have captivated audiences and inspired the next generation around the world. For years she and the team at Nuyorican have brought a distinctive voice to entertainment, and I’m looking forward to working with her and the team to create new series for our members to love.”

Lopez scored her best opening for a live-action movie at the domestic box office with STX’s 2019 stripper caper Hustlers, which debuted to $33.1 million, and grossed $105M stateside, $157.6M worldwide.

As a recording artist, Lopez has sold over 70 million albums, with J.Lo became her bestselling album with 3.8M copies sold in the U.S. and 12M global.

Soledad O’Brien Named to Peabody Board of Directors

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Soledad O’Brien is on board…

In an effort to advance the organization’s commitment to storytelling, Peabody has appointed six new members to its bicoastal board of directors, including the 53-year-old half-Afro-Cuban American journalist.

Soledad O'Brien

Joining O’Brien, a presenter on HBO’s Real Sportsand host of Hearst Television’s Matter Of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, on the board are Chris McCarthy, ViacomCBS’ newly appointed president of entertainment and youth brands, and ESPN’s executive vice president of content, Connor Schell.

NPReditorial director Nancy Barnesand UnivisionCommunications’ executive vice president of government and corporate affairs Jessica Herrera-Flaniganhave also joined the board.

The five executives will serve on Peabody’s East Coast board, with the sixth new arrival, CAApartner Steven Lafferty, joining the organization’s West Coast board.

The bicoastal boards are distinct from the traditional board of jurors, which hands out the Peabody Awards. Existing board members include Vicechief Nancy Dubuc, PBS CEO Paula Kergerand Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

Peabody executive director Jeffrey Jonessaid: “The intellectual capital and energy our boards bring is unparalleled, and we are excited to welcome these new members as they help us extend our reach through new partnerships and public engagements.”

Louis C.K. Partners with Netflix for Two New Stand-Up Specials

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Louis C.K. is taking a stand(-up)…

The 49-year-old Mexican American comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, and editor has inked a deal with Netflix for two new stand-up specials.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K.’s first, titled 2017, was filmed in Washington D.C., and will premiere April 4, everywhere Netflix is available.

“Louis has been one of the most innovative comedy voices in this new era of stand-up,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix. “He has also been a thought leader in the business of comedy.”

Louis C.K. and Netflix hinted at a potential future collaboration back in August, when his most recent stand-up special, the 2015 Live at the Comedy Store, quietly launched on Netflix. Like his 2011 special, Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theater, Live at the Comedy Store was produced independently by Louis C.K. and distributed directly to consumers through his website for $5. A few months after its original release online, Live From the Comedy Store premiered on FX. The pickup by Netflix came more than a year later.

One of the most respected stand-up comedians working today, the six-time Emmy winner has also done specials for HBO, Showtime and Epix.

In January 2015, he became the first comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden three times for the same tour. The third show was recorded and released as a digital audio download on his website, which went on to take home a 2016 Grammy for Best Comedy Album. The following year, as part of an international tour that culminated in this latest special, Louis C.K. broke his own record by selling out Madison Square Garden five times over, as well as arenas all over the country.

Louis C.K. also has ramped up production via his company Pig Newton. Independently, the company produced drama Horace and Pete, which Louis C.K. wrote directed and starred in. The show, which debuted in January 2016 and was directly distributed through his website, was recently acquired by Hulu for streaming. Via his overall deal at FX Productions, Pig Newton produces the upcoming animated series The Cops for TBS, which he co-created and voices, FX comedy series Baskets and Better Things and Amazon’s One Mississippi. And he’s the executive producer, writer, director, editor and star of FX’s acclaimed comedy series Louie, which is on an indefinite hiatus after five seasons.

Netflix to Premiere Muniz’s Soccer-Themed Documentary “This is Not a Ball”

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It looks like Vik Muniz will be kickin’ up some futbol fun in the United States, just in time for this year’s FIFA World Cup.

Netflix has slated a June 13 premiere in the U.S. and Latin America for the documentary This is Not a Ball, directed by the 52-year-old Brazilian artist, as soccer fans gear up for the upcoming World Cup.

Vik Muniz

Produced by Televisa’s film division Videocine, This is Not a Ball follows Muniz as he explores the world’s passion for soccer while creating an art piece consisting of 20,000 soccer balls.

The film visits nine cities and includes an interview with famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

This Is Not a Ball

“This is Not a Ball is a groundbreaking story about the universal value of soccer and the true meaning of ‘the ball’ through the lens of a very talented production team and amazing partners such as Televisa,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

The World Cup kicks off June 12 in Sao Paulo with an inaugural match between host country Brazil and Croatia