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Kevin Costner is deepening his ties in television.
Following his Emmy-winning turn in the widely-viewed History miniseries, Hatifelds & McCoys, Costner’s Treehouse Films has inked a first-look TV deal with Sea to Sky Entertainment, the TV-production and -distribution joint venture between Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and its founder Frank Giustra’s Thunderbird Films
As part of the pact, Costner will be working in conjunction with Treehouse creative executive Jasa McCall to develop and produce scripted programming. Additionally, he could choose to act in and/or direct some of his projects.
STORY: Lionsgate Reunites with Founder for TV Venture
“Hatfields & McCoys was an extraordinary achievement, and when we learned that Kevin wanted to expand his activities in television, we were immediately interested in meeting with him,” said Kevin Beggs, president of Lionsgate Television Group. Added Tim Gamble, CEO of Thunderbird Films: “We are honored to be working with Kevin Costner and to be able to play a part in this exciting chapter of his remarkable career.”
The latest move comes after Costner’s lengthy career in film, where he is best known for movies such as Wyatt Earp, The Bodyguard and Dances With Wolves. The latter, which he produced, directed and starred in, won seven Academy Awards, including best picture and best director. Later this year, he’ll be back on the big screen with Jack Ryan, a revival of the Tom Clancy franchise. He is also set to appear in Three Days to Kill and recently finished shooting Summit Entertainment’s Draft Day.
Sea to Sky, named after the Canadian highway (just as Lionsgate was named after a Canadian bridge), launched in early 2012 as a 50-50 partnership focused on producing broadcast and cable fare. At launch, the venture had deals in place with The War Room‘s R.J. Cutler and Gone Baby Gone author Dennis Lehane. “The TV business is where I want to be,” Giustra said at the time. “Back in 2000, Lionsgate’s very small TV business was generating $8 million in revenue; now it’s a $400 million to $450 million business. So you can see what can be done if executed properly.”
Costner is repped by WME and One Management.
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