Shout! Factory to Issue Richard Pryor CD/DVD Box Set (Exclusive)

Santa Monica's Shout! Factory, noted for making classy DVDs of classic TV shows (like the October release Barney Miller: The Complete Series), has partnered with Indigo Inc. to produce and distribute a CD/DVD box set devoted to comedian Richard Pryor's entire careeer: comedy records, complete concert films and TV special highlights.

"From his classic routines to fresh, undiscovered material, this box set will provide a rich overview of his comedic vision," Indigo CEO Jennifer Lee Pryor said.

The set will be released in summer 2012.

Shout! Factory also announced a new kind of deal for the company: Instead of simply licensing DVD rights to the hit 1960-64 TV show Route 66, it bought proprietary rights to the series, including all 116 original episodes, archived materials, worldwide home entertainment and digital rights and North American broadcast rights.

“As we are aggressively expanding our purchasing libraries of premiere television and films, this deal exemplifies the type of strategic acquisitions we plan to actively pursue,” said Shout! co-founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos in a joint statement.
 
Expect to see the Kerouac-inspired show (with guest stars Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Walter Matthau, Martin Sheen, James Caan, Burt Reynolds, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney Jr., Ron Howard, Lee Marvin, Suzanne Pleshette, Ed Asner and Cloris Leachman) via electronic-sell-through, video-on-demand, subscription video-on-demand and North American broadcast, cable and syndication.

Roxbury Entertainment and producer Kirk Hallam, who have retained trademark and TV remake and film rights, are developing a Route 66 TV series remake with Shout! Factory.