?Little America’ Co-creator Lee Eisenberg Inks Apple TV Multi-year Overall Deal
Little America co-creator Lee Eisenberg is expanding his relationship with Apple. On the heels of the season premiere of the critically acclaimed series, Apple has signed an overall deal with the six-time Emmy nominee and WGA award-winning writer, director and producer. Under the multi-year pact, Eisenberg will create television and digital media projects exclusively for Apple TV+ via his new Piece of Work Entertainment banner. Additionally, Eisenberg has brought on Natalie Sandy, who was a producer on the first season of Little America, as a VP of Development at Piece of Work.
‘Little America’ co-creator Lee Eisenberg inks Apple TV multi-year overall deal
While Apple has set a release date for Little America on Apple TV+ and also renewed the show for a second season, it has also signed a multi-year content creation deal with its showrunner and co-creator, Lee Eisenberg.
That same month, Apple signed a deal with DHX Media (now WildBrain), and its subsidiary Peanuts Worldwide, to develop and produce original programs, including new series, specials and shorts based on the Peanuts characters created by Charles M. Schulz. One of the first productions created through the deal was an original short-form, STEM-related series featuring astronaut Snoopy.[76] Also that month, Apple signed Justin Lin, and his production company Perfect Storm Entertainment, to a multi-year overall deal to produce original television content.[77]
In January 2019, Apple signed Jason Katims, and his production company True Jack Productions, to a multi-year overall production and development deal to produce original television content.[78] That same month, Apple signed a first look deal with Imagine Documentaries to develop non-fiction features and series.[79] In February 2019, Harpo Productions hired Terry Wood as executive Vice President in which Wood will oversee Harpo's production of original programming for Apple as part of the multi-year agreement between Oprah Winfrey and Apple.[80] In March 2019, it was reported that five television series commissioned by Apple had finished filming and six series would finish filming in the next few months.[81]
In March 2021, Apple announced a multi-year programming partnership with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.[99] Apple also signed a multi-year, first-look deal with Imagine Entertainment's film division, in addition to extending its first-look deal with Imagine Documentaries.[100] Additionally, Natalie Portman and production partner Sophie Mas signed a multi-year first-look deal with Apple for television projects developed and produced under their new production company MountainA.[101] March also brought an overall multi-year first-look deal with Tracy Oliver, reportedly worth well into the "eight-figure range".[102]
In June 2021, Sian Heder, the director of the Apple-acquired Sundance hit CODA, signed a multi-year overall deal to exclusively write and develop series for Apple, in addition to signing a first-look deal for any films written by Heder.[103]
In July 2021, Misha Green, the creator and showrunner of Lovecraft Country, signed a multi-year overall deal with Apple to exclusively create and develop new television series for Apple TV+.[104] In July, Apple also signed a first-look deal with Alexander Rodnyansky's production company, AR Content, for future Russian-language and multilingual television series.[105] Additionally, Apple signed a multi-year, first-look deal with Adam McKay's production company, Hyperobject Industries, for upcoming scripted feature films.[106]