Antoine Fuqua is expanding his relationship with The Weinstein Co.
The Training Day and Southpaw director has signed a multiple-year first-look television deal with the studio, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Under the pact, TWC will have first-look options with Fuqua to direct, develop or produce his next TV projects. The deal marks TWC’s first overall deal since expanding into television.
As part of Fuqua’s pact, sources say his first project will be Mario Puzo’s Omerta, the final book in the author’s mafia trilogy that started with The Godfather and The Last Don. The book was published in 2000, a year after the two-time Oscar-winning author’s death. A network is not yet attached, but sources say the pilot will film in the summer.
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“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with Antoine. We have been lucky enough to work with some of the best storytellers in the business. Antoine has a unique vision that is all his own,” TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein said. “His ability to take the adrenaline of action and emotion of drama, weaving them together, makes him one of the best contemporary directors and producers in our industry. We look forward to adding his powerhouse strength to our TV division.”
The pact expands TWC’s relationship with Fuqua following the feature Southpaw. The director, meanwhile, also has CBS’ TV adaption of Training Day in the works. He’ll exec produce the drama, which hails from Warner Bros. Television.
“It’s a great time to work in TV with the type of high-quality caliber shows that are out there now,” Fuqua said. “Harvey, Bob and the entire Weinstein team have been great collaborators, so I can’t think of a better studio to partner with on this endeavor.”
The deal was negotiated by David Glasser, Megan Spanjian and Sarah Sobel on behalf of TWC, with Rob Kenneally and Scott Greenberg from CAA and Brian Lazarus from Ziffren Brittenham on behalf of Fuqua.
