'Hung' Creators Ink Two-Year Overall Deal at Fox 21

Hung’s Dmitry Lipkin and Collette Burson have inked a two-year overall deal with Fox 21.

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As part of the pact, the married duo will focus not only on creating its own cable fare, but also on producing and supervising other writers. Though it’s been mere months since they wrapped production on their acclaimed HBO series, Lipkin and Burson have been hard at work on several potential new series ideas in what they describe as “wildly different” genres.

The partners, who had an overall deal at HBO until November, were courted by multiple outlets but were particularly impressed by the studio behind such shows as Homeland and Sons of Anarchy. “They do bold, sophisticated, adult programming,” Lipkin told The Hollywood Reporter of Fox21’s appeal, adding that Homeland is currently his favorite show on television.

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To hear Fox 21 president and Hung fan Bert Salke tell it, he’s been chasing the Lipkin and Burson for over a year. As he looks to actively bulk up his showrunner stable, he belives the partners, who previously collaborated on FX's The Riches, fit squarely into his desired brand.  

"Hung and The Riches were ideas with gigantic lead characters that attract big talent and, frankly, were out of the box," Salke told THR. "For me, that’s so important. We’re in a world that’s so post-modern, finding those kind of ideas and people with a vision for where they go is really difficult." 

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While the ink is barely dry on their new deal, the WGA nominated writer-producers acknowledged that they are eager to dive in on something new. “We’re used to a tremendous workload. Right now, I’m sitting in the middle of our downstairs living room and every single wall is covered with a different project that’s in a different state,” said Burson, adding: “There’s our super natural thriller to my left. Straight ahead is our comedy. To the right is our half-hour comedy. And behind me is a screenplay.”

Though the duo is staying mum on specifics, they said their goal continues to be to marry very commercial hooks with deep characters. As Burson put it, “We used to be playwrights, that’s what we get off on.”

Lipkin is repped by CAA and attorney Ken Richman at Hansen Jacobson; Burson is repped by UTA and attorney Tara Kole at Gang Tyre Ramer & Brown.

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose