Shortform video streaming platform Quibi won’t launch until spring 2020, but the venture founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg has attracted plenty of attention — and more importantly, backing (financial and otherwise) from industry heavyweights.
The company — whose name is a portmanteau of “quick bites” — has raised $1.75 billion from major Hollywood studios and other investors and is looking to raise $500 million more before its launch, in part to help market the service.
All that cash is intended to help Quibi have as many as 7,000 pieces of content for users within a year of launching, ranging from scripted dramas and comedies to competition shows to newscasts. Katzenberg has said the goal is to release new shows every other week.
The service, set to debut April 6, 2020, is aimed at mobile users, with shows filmed specifically for the format and broken into “chapters” of eight or 10 minutes each. Users will pay $4.99 monthly for an ad-supported version of the service or $7.99 for a version with no ads.
CEO Meg Whitman has said she and Katzenberg see Quibi as a complement to, rather than competitor of, other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon’s Prime Video. Whitman cites research showing that mobile viewing of those services accounts for only about 10 percent of total time spent with them, so Quibi can serve a market for people looking for shorter, high-quality content during commutes, on lunch breaks or in other downtime.
Here’s a look at the company, the people running it and the many projects it has in development.
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EXECUTIVE TEAM
Meg Whitman is the CEO of Quibi and was Katzenberg’s first hire. The former HP and eBay CEO and Katzenberg have a long-standing relationship dating to when both were at Disney in the late 1980s and early ’90s.
Jim Toth is heading content acquisition and talent for the company after a long tenure at CAA, where he represented such clients as Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr.
Diane Nelson joined Quibi to lead content operations after a two-decade stint at Warner Bros., where she oversaw DC Entertainment and consumer products. Nelson departed in November 2019 for family reasons.
Janice Min, the former co-president and chief creative officer of The Hollywood Reporter, is shaping Quibi’s news programming as a senior content development executive focused on a vertical known as Daily Essentials. Min has departed Quibi.
Doug Herzog, the longtime Viacom executive who had oversight of several of the conglomerate’s entertainment networks, rounds out the content team as a senior content development executive.
Tom Conrad serves as chief product officer at the streamer after 10 years at Pandora and two years at Snapchat.
Rob Post is chief technology officer at Quibi, which he joined in 2018 after more than 10 years at Hulu.
Tim Connolly has been tasked with finding advertising partners (early deals have been struck with Google and Walmart) for Quibi’s ad-supported offering as head of partnerships and ad sales, a role he assumed after leaving Hulu. Connolly left following a reorganization of Quibi’s partnerships and distribution team.
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SCRIPTED
48 Laws of Power | Based on the best-selling nonfiction book by Robert Greene, the show will detail the ways of acquiring and hanging on to power. Each episode will deal with one of the book’s laws. Drake is executive producing via his Dreamcrew company, along with Adel “Future” Nur and Jason Shrier of Dreamcrew and Green and Zack Hayden of Anonymous Content. Anonymous is producing.
50 States of Fright | A horror anthology from executive producers Sam Raimi, Van Toffler and Gunpowder & Sky, along with Tony DiSanto, who developed the project. Each installment will tell a scary story based on myths and urban legends from each state. The cast includes Rachel Brosnahan, Christina Ricci, Travis Fimmel and Ming-Na Wen, among others; Raimi will also direct an episode. Premieres April 13.
After Dark | Steven Spielberg conceived the idea after visiting his friend Katzenberg at the Quibi offices. Little is known about the project, which Katzenberg describes as a “super scary, pretty creepy story” — that will only become available to users once night has fallen.
Agua Donkeys | From Funny or Die, the comedy series follows two pool cleaners (creators MP Cunningham and Jeremy Jackson) in search of the perfect tan, the perfect vibe and the perfect mix of chlorine and bromine as they go about their jobs in their Utah hometown. Cunningham, Jackson, Joe Farrell, Mike Farah, Greg Walter, Luke Maxwell and Jim Ziegler are the EPs. Premieres April 13.
The Andy Cohen Diaries | The Watch What Happens Live host and Real Housewives executive producer will star in a six-episode animated series based on his life. The show will serve as the next installment of his best-selling Diaries books; Cohen executive produces with Corey Campodonico and Alex Bulkley of animation studio ShadowMachine (BoJack Horseman, Final Space).
Charlemagne | Creator and executive producer Michael Hirst (Vikings, The Tudors) will take on another historical saga with this story of the wild life of Roman emperor. Charlemagne united Eastern and Western Europe under his rule while navigating a salacious, complicated personal life.
Code 8 | A follow-up to the crowd-funded sci-fi feature film from Robbie and Stephen Amell, the series is set in a world where 4 percent of the population has special abilities — but they’re feared and heavily surveilled rather than treated as heroes. The film’s writer and director, Chris Paré and Jeff Chan, are collaborating on the series.
Crazy Talented | From writer Michael Karnow (Alphas) and director Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow), the show follows a group of superheroes hoping to prevent calamity after alien weapons fall into the wrong hands — or at least that’s what they’re told. The “superheroes” are patients in a psych ward where a charismatic leader has convinced them their issues are extraordinary talents. Liman’s 30 Ninjas is producing the series.
Curs_R | In this thriller executive produced by Ridley Scott, a broke student decides to play an obscure, 1980s survival computer game in pursuit of an unclaimed $100,000 prize. She soon discovers she’s playing for her life as the game locks her into a cycle of mind-bending horror. Simon Allen (The Musketeers) is writing and executive producing with studio Anton, Matthew James Wilkinson of Stigma Films and Scott. Toby Meakins will direct.
Die Hart | Formerly known as Action Scene, the series stars Kevin Hart as a fictionalized version of himself who is tired of being cast as the comedic sidekick. He gets an offer to topline an action movie — provided he goes through training at an action-star school run by a lunatic (played by John Travolta). Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones) also stars as a fellow student. Hart’s company Laugh Out Loud produces, with the comedian and his business partner, Jeff Clanagan, exec producing. Tripper Clancy (Stuber) and Derek Kolstad (John Wick) are the writers, and Eric Appel (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) directs.
Don’t Look Deeper | A sci-fi drama set “15 minutes into the future” follows a high-school student in Merced, California, who can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right — and that something is she’s not human. Don Cheadle, Emily Mortimer and Helena Howard are set to star. Creators Jeffrey Lieber (Lost, YouTube’s Impulse) and Charlie McDonnell executive produce with director Catherine Hardwicke, Kathleen Grace and Laura Schwartz of New Form and Jed Weintrob and Julina Tatlock of 30 Ninjas.
Dummy | Anna Kendrick will star and executive produce this buddy comedy about an aspiring writer and her boyfriend’s sex doll from Deadbeat co-creator Cody Heller and producer wiip. Tricia Brock is directing. Premieres April 20.
El Señor de Los Cielos prequel | Katzenberg said at SXSW that Quibi is working with Telemundo on a three-hour series that will tell the origin story at of the drug lord at the center of its top-rated telenovela.
Emma | The horror series follows a young woman (AnnaSophia Robb), down on her luck and pregnant under mysterious circumstances, as she deals with the increasingly disturbing effects of the pregnancy and the possible conspiracy surrounding it. Writer Ben Ketai (StartUp, The Forest) executive produces with Alex Mace and Hal Sadoff of Dark Castle Entertainment and Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Greg Lipstone and Rodney Ferrell of Propagate. Platinum Dunes also exec produces. Director Mary Harron (American Psycho, Alias Grace) is co-EP. The cast also includes Mira Sorvino, Rory Culkin, Hannah Murphy and Michael Gaston
Flipped | Will Forte and Kaitlin Olson star in a Funny or Die-produced comedy about a chronically underemployed couple who believe they’re destined to be TV’s next great home-design team. Their dreams of basic-cable glory are sidetracked, however, when they’re kidnapped by members of a drug cartel (Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Arturo Castro) and forced to renovate the trio’s sprawling homes. Steve Mallory and Damon Jones created the show and executive produce with director Ryan Case, Joe Farrell and Jim Ziegler. Premieres April 6.
Frat Boy Genius | Based on Elissa Karasik’s 2018 Black List script, the series will take a Social Network-like look at the rise of Snapchat, focusing on founder Evan Spiegel (who does not come off in a very flattering light in the screenplay).
#FreeRayshawn | Training Day and Magnificent Seven director Antoine Fuqua is executive producing the project, directed by Seith Mann, about a young, black Iraq War veteran who is set up by New Orleans police. He runs for his life and takes refuge inside his apartment with his girlfriend and child. Homecoming‘s Stephan James plays Rayshawn and Laurence Fishburne plays a sympathetic cop who serves as a negotiator during one brutally stressful day. Premieres April 13.
The Fugitive | The scripted drama — based on the 1993 film (that was inspired by the 1960s TV series) — revolves around Mike Russo (Boyd Holbrook), a blue-collar guy who just wants to make sure that his 10-year-old daughter, Pearl, and wife, Allison, are safe after a bomb rips through the L.A. subway train. But the faulty evidence on the ground and “tweet-now, confirm-later” journalism paint a nightmarish picture: it looks to all the world that Mike was responsible for the heinous act. Wrongfully — and very publicly — accused, Mike must prove his innocence by uncovering the real perpetrator, before the legendary cop heading the investigation (Kiefer Sutherland) can apprehend him. With the city in a state of panic and misinformation traveling at the speed of social media, Mike’s life and family hang in the balance as he becomes the fugitive. Nick Santora (Scorpion) will pen the script and exec produce alongside Basil Iwanyk, Tom Lassally and Albert Torres. The series hails from Warner Bros. TV and is produced by Thunder Road Films and 3 Arts and was developed with Riverstone Pictures.
Gloop World | From Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland, the clay-animation series will follow two anthropomorphic blobs, roommates Bob Roundy and Funzy, and their absurd, strangely relatable adventures around the malleable, clay-mated suburbia and outskirts of the title location. Roiland executive produces with John Harvatine IV, Eric Towner, Seth Green, Matthew Senreich and Chris Waters of Stoopid Buddy Studios (Robot Chicken).
Heartbeats | A dramedy that follows a “perfect couple” as they navigate the aftermath of their surprising and emotional breakup, told from the perspective of the viewer as their mutual friend. Michael Mohan and Ben York Jones (Netflix’s Everything Sucks) are writing, with Mohan also directing. Entertainment One and Hypnotic produce.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days | An updated take on the 2003 Paramount Pictures rom-com will center on a glib young online columnist and an oversexed ad executive who both need to prove, once and for all, that they’re capable of being monogamous. They discover that keeping a relationship together is harder than Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson’s character in the movie) made it look. Comedian and author Guy Branum is writing the show, which comes from Paramount TV.
Junior High | American Vandal star Jimmy Tatro and long-time collaborator Christian Pierce are teaming up for an “elevation” of their middle-school YouTube series, which will follow a group of friends trying to figure out the fast-paced world of junior high school and answer big questions like “Do I want to play in the NFL, the NBA or both?” and “Did I clear the search history on mom’s computer?” Douglas Banker, Kenny Neibert, Tatro, Pierce and Jonathan Stern exec produce.
Just One Drink | Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Laura Dern will star in a series from Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, State of the Union). The show is a series of one-act vignetts in which a bartender, played by Dern (Marriage Story, Big Little Lies) chats up her customers, all of whom are in various states of emotional disrepair. Dern also executive produces with her Jaywalker Pictures partner Jayme Lemons, Hornby and Platform One Media’s Elisa Ellis.
The Last American Vampire | Picked up after it was developed at NBC, the drama is written by Terry Matalas (12 Monkeys) and revolves around a young female FBI agent who is partnered with a 500-year-old vampire in a bid to protect the world from a dangerous threat. The drama hails from 20th Century Fox TV and exec producers David Katzenberg, Seth Grahame-Smith and Aaron Schmidt.
Last Resort | Dwayne Johnson and Paul Feig are among the executive producers of this comedy about a Hawaii resort run by a Polynesian family that’s thrown into a whirlwind when a billionaire makes an offer on their land. Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions and Feig and Laura Fischer’s Powderkeg produce; all four are EPs. Sameer Gardezi of Powderkeg’s Break the Room, which aims to get more underrepresented writers staffed, produces along with Hiram Garcia, Kevin Hill and Brian Gewirtz of Seven Bucks.
Mapleworth Murders | The comic murder mystery from Universal TV and Lorne Michaels was co-created by and stars Paula Pell (Saturday Night Live, Wine Country) as a mystery writer who solves homicides in her quaint Connecticut hometown, while also looking at why so many people are killed there. Co-creator John Lutz (30 Rock) also stars. Michaels, Andrew Singer, Seth Meyers and Michael Shoemaker are the EPs. The all-star cast includes J.B. Smoove, Hayley Magnus, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, D’Arcy Carden, Tina Fey, Patton Oswalt, Wanda Sykes and many others.
Micro Mayhem | From Stoopid Buddy Studios (Robot Chicken, Quibi’s Gloop World), this series of animated shorts combines stop-motion animation and miniature filmmaking for a series of wild (and comically violent) car chases. Eric Towner created the series and executive produces with Jon Favreau’s Golem Creations, Seth Green, John Harvatine IV, Matthew Senreich and Chris Waters. Entertainment One produces with Stoopid Buddy.
Most Dangerous Game | The series from Nick Santora (Scorpion, Prison Break) and CBS TV Studios centers on a terminally ill man (Hemsworth) who enters a competition in hopes of providing for his pregnant wife before he dies. Christoph Waltz also stars. Santora, director Phil Abraham (Mad Men), Gordon Gray and Silver Reel Pictures executive produce. Premieres April 6.
The Now | Co-written by Peter Farrelly (Green Book), Steve Leff (The Ranch) and Pete Jones (Hall Pass), the comedy centers on a guy (Dave Franco) thinking about committing suicide who finds out from his mother that his brother has just killed himself — and that their father also committed suicide years ago. He decides he can’t pile more grief on his mom and tries to learn to live for today. Peter and brother Bobby Farrelly will direct; the Anonymous Content project is executive produced by Steve Golin and Jeff Okin. O’Shea Jackson Jr., Daryl Hannah and Jimmy Tatro also star.
Reno 911 | A revival of the 2003-09 Comedy Central series will bring creators Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney-Silver and Thomas Lennon back on the beat as writers and stars. The show comes from Comedy Central Productions; Peter Principato of Artists First and Jersey Television’s Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher executive produce.
Royalties | Darren Criss co-created and will star in a musical comedy (for which he’ll also pen original songs) about a pair of songwriters (Criss and You’re the Worst‘s Kether Donohue) who are trying to make their way in the music business. The show, the first sale from Fox Entertainment’s content arm SideCar, will also feature real-life music personalities playing fictitious (and ridiculous) pop stars. Criss executive produces with Nick and Matt Lang, Gail Berman, Hend Baghdady, Joe Earley and Ricky Rollins. Amy Heckerling directs, and Tony Revolori, Georgia King and John Stamos will have recurring roles.
Skinny Dip | Based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel, this series from Keshet Studios revolves around a woman whose husband throws her overboard during a cruise to celebrate their anniversary. When a retired cop rescues her, they team up to gaslight her husband. Russel Friend and Garret Lerner (House, Altered Carbon) adapted the book and executive produce with Keshet’s Peter Traugott, Rachel Kaplan, Alon Shtruzman and Avi Nir.
The Stranger | A thriller from writer-director-EP Veena Sud (The Killing, Seven Seconds) that follows a ride-share driver who’s thrown into her worst nightmare after picking up a passenger in the Hollywood Hills. The series unfolds over a 12-hour period as she navigates the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles and engages in a spine-chilling game of cat and mouse. Fox 21 TV Studios produces. Premieres April 13.
Survive | Sophie Turner, in her first series after Game of Thrones, stars with Corey Hawkins (BlacKkKlansman) in this thriller where they play the only two survivors of a plane crash. After escaping the wreckage, they embark on a harrowing journey across the wilderness, facing brutal conditions and personal traumas. Richard Abate and Jeremy Ungar are adapting Alex Morel’s novel, with Mark Pellington set to direct. EMH Consulting Group and Gunpowder & Sky are producing the series, with the latter’s Van Toffler, Floris Bauer and Barry Barclay executive producing. EMH’s Cary Granat and Ed Jones produce along with Abate. Premieres April 6.
Swimming With Sharks | An update of George Huang’s cult 1994 movie about a Hollywood assistant (Frank Whaley) and his abusive boss (Kevin Spacey), the series will center on a female studio assistant rising amid a workplace full of manipulators and schemers. Actress and writer Kathleen Robertson (Northern Rescue, Little Bee) is adapting the movie and producing along with Chris Cowles (Blockers). Tucker Gates (Homeland, The Morning Show) will direct; Dana Brunetti and Liz Destro exec produce along with Jay Cohen and Stephen Israel, EPs of the film. Kiernan Shipka and Diane Kruger will star.
Tomie | Director Alexandre Aja (Crawl) and writer David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (Aquaman, The Conjuring 2) are developing this adaptation of a cult-favorite horror manga series by Juni Ito. The series will tell the story of what happens when a high school girl goes missing and pieces of her body are scattered all over town. What starts as a murder mystery turns into something even more horrific. Sony Pictures Television and UCP produce.
Toys | Based on a James Patterson novel, the series is set in a future where generations of genetic enhancements has resulted in class conflict between genetic Elites and unaltered Basics. It centers on a young woman who finds herself, and her heart, caught between the two worlds. Melinda Hsu Taylor (Nancy Drew, The Vampire Diaries) writes and executive produces along with Peter Lenkov (Hawaii Five-0, Magnum P.I.), Patterson, Leopoldo Gout and Bill Robinson. The project comes from CBS TV Studios, Lenkov’s 101st Street Entertainment and James Patterson Entertainment.
Transmissions | From Bodyguard and Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, the sci-fi thriller centers on a lone scientist at a remote radio observatory who begins receiving disturbing signals from deep space. Mercurio’s HTM Television, a joint venture with Hat Trick Productions, produces in the first big project for HTM. Mercurio and Hat Trick’s Jimmy Mulville executive produce.
Trill League | Based on a comic of the same name, the animated series follows a team of black superheroes who, in an era of social injustice and internet trolls, are tasked with saving the world from monsters, supervillains and haters of all kinds. The series will also satirize modern American society via its remixed rendition of favorite superheroes. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson executive produces via his G-Unit Film & Television along with creators Jameel Saleem and Anthony Piper, author of the comic. Lionsgate TV is producing.
Varsity Blues | The modern take on the 1999 high school-set football movie starring James Van Der Beek is being written by Tripper Clancy (Stuber), with original producer Mike Tollin attached as an exec producer. The project from Paramount TV has been picked up to series, with Anne Fletcher (The Proposal) set to direct; Tova Laiter, another of the movie’s producers, is an EP along with Tollin, Peter Guber (their company MSM produces with Paramount) and John Gatins. Maia Glickman oversees for MSM.
When the Street Lights Go On | A coming-of-age story combined with a murder mystery, the Paramount TV/Anonymous Content series is set in a suburban town rocked by the murder of a young girl. The victim’s sister and her friends struggle to find a sense of normalcy in the midst of an investigation. The show has traveled a long road, landing on the Black List back in 2011 and going through development first as a feature film and then as a Hulu pilot before finally landing at Quibi with a series order. Writers Chris Hutton and Eddie O’Keefe and director Rebecca Thomas exec produce with Anonymous Content’s Tariq Merhab and Chad Hamilton. The regular cast includes Queen Latifah, It‘s Chosen Jacobs, Sophie Thatcher, Sam Strike, Ben Ahlers and Julia Sarah Stone; Mark Duplass, Tony Hale, Kristine Froseth and Nnamdi Asomugha will recur. Premieres April 6.
Winos | Thomas Lennon (Reno 911, The Odd Couple) created and will star in this comedy about a “misguided entrepreneur” who, after failing spectacularly in Silicon Valley, moves to California’s wine country and tries to revive a run-down vineyard. Lennon and Peter Principato of Artists First executive produce the 20th Century Fox TV series.
Wireless | Steven Soderbergh is among the executive producers of the drama about a college student (Ready Player One‘s Tye Sheridan) stranded in the Colorado mountains after a car crash whose only hope for survival is the tool he spent his whole life learning to use: his smartphone. Jack Seidman and Zach Wechter created the series and exec produce with Soderbergh, Michael Sugar, Cathy Konrad and Danny Sherman.
Wolves and Villagers | The Blumhouse TV series has Naomi Watts (The Loudest Voice, HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel) attached to star in what’s described in a Fatal Attraction-esque story. Stuart Blumberg writes and executive produces with Jason Blum.
Untitled Guillermo del Toro series | Details are scant on the Oscar-winning director’s project, but it’s been described as a “modern zombie story.”
Untitled Paul Feig projects | The Bridesmaids and A Simple Favor director/producer said at the Banff World Media Festival in June that he is “in stages of development” on a couple of projects for Quibi, but didn’t elaborate on them.
UNSCRIPTED
&Music | The docuseries turns the spotlight on the behind-the-scenes teams that help some of the biggest names in music bring their performances to life. The featured artists are being kept under wraps, but episodes will focus on choreographers, music video directors, stage designers and others who help realize the artist’s vision. The show comes from OBB Pictures and GoodStory Entertainment; executive producers are OBB’s Michael D. Ratner, Scott Ratner and Eric D. Cohen; GoodStory’s Scooter Braun, JD Roth and Adam Greener; and Harrison Macks, J.P. Stiles and Candice Dragonas. Premieres April 6.
Beauty | Star and executive producer Tyra Banks aims to “expand and redefine the definition of beauty as we know it” in a docuseries that will explore the societal standards of beauty and how they developed. Network Entertainment is producing the project.
Biggest Little Cook-Off | A cooking competition with a twist, where chefs compete to produce delicious single bites of food, like spaghetti and meatballs on a plate the size of a dime. Andy Samberg hosts the comedic take on chef battles, which comes from Triage Entertainment, a Levity Live company. Samberg also executive produces with Michael Rosenstein, Stephen Kroopnick and Stu Schreiberg.
Blackballed | The docuseries from Will Packer Media will chronicle the downfall of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling after audio of him making racist comments was leaked to the press — while the team was in the midst of a playoff series. Michael Jacobs will direct, with Chris Gary and Ryan Simon, Sam Widdoes and Peter Cambor for District 33, Will Packer and Kelly Smith for Will Packer Media and James Widdoes executive producing.
Centerpiece | Hosted by acclaimed floral artist Maurice Harris, the series will team him and a celebrity guest in each episode to go on a creative journey culminating in a “mind-blowing” floral centerpiece. Harris executive produces with co-creator Peter Kline along with Rashida Jones, Will McCormack and John Kaplan. The show comes from Alldayeverday, Jones and McCormack’s Le Train Train and Harris’ Bloom and Plume.
Chrissy’s Court | TV personality and model Chrissy Teigen presides over a humorous courtroom show in which she adjudicates real small-claims cases, with her mother, Vilailuck “Pepper Thai” Teigen, serving as bailiff. Suit & Thai Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment produce the show; Teigen and Luke Dillon are EPs. Premieres April 6.
Cup of Joe | Music star Joe Jonas leads an eight-part travel series (inspired by his Instagram account of the same name) where he’ll explore a new city during the Jonas Brothers’ Happiness Begins tour. At each stop he’ll be joined by a local guide so he can experience the place like a local. Jonas executive produces with Phil McIntyre and John Taylor for Philymack and Ben Winston for Fulwell 73. Premieres April 27.
Dishmantled | Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) will host this cooking competition in which, no kidding, “each episode starts with the cannon-blasting of a mystery food dish into the faces of two blindfolded chefs.” The contestants then have to identify and re-create the dish. Linda Lea of Good Egg (Chopped) and Drew Buckley of Electus (Running Wild With Bear Grylls) executive produce. Premieres April 6.
Elba vs. Block | Idris Elba and professional rally driver Ken Block face off in a series of driving stunts with names like “Wall of Death” and “Flaming Obstacle Course” to see who has the superior skills behind the wheel. Elba’s Green Door Pictures is producing with Workerbee, part of Endemol Shine U.K. Premieres April 13.
Empires of Luxury | A docuseries that takes viewers inside the rarefied enclaves of legendary brands and global artisans who have honed their crafts and kept their businesses “all in the family” for generations. It will profile the families behind exclusive labels in the travel, fashion and lifestyle industries and the younger members helping guide their legacies into the future. The show comes from Universal Television Alternative Studio and executive producers Kevin Kwan (author of Crazy Rich Asians) and Eddie Schmidt (Ugly Delicious, Chelsea Does).
FaZe Up | An interactive series that will give six Quibi users, chosen by the audience, the chance to compete to join prominent esports team FaZe Clan. The winner will get a chance to be a competitive gamer with Faze and also win a “life-changing” cash prize. Executive producers are FaZe Clan, Nathan Gaines, Dennis Lisberger, showrunner Harrison Nalévansky, Mike Basone and Charles Segars.
Fierce Queens | Reese Witherspoon narrates a nature series about the fabulous females of the animal kingdom from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit. Premieres April 6.
Fight Like a Girl | From WWE Studios and Critical Content, the series will have WWE executive Stephanie McMahon pairing one of the pro wrestling promotion’s female stars with a young woman struggling with a personal issue that’s holding her back. The WWE stars will draw on their own experience to help each trainee overcome obstacles and become “tougher, stronger and healthier” versions of themselves. Premieres April 13.
Floored | A dance competition with a twist: In each episode, two teams of dancers will try to complete a pre-rehearsed routine — while the floor underneath them tilts, lifts, shakes and spins in time with the music. YouTuber Liza Koshy hosts and executive produces the Mission Control Media show along with Michael Agbabian, Dwight D. Smith, Heath Luman and Mary Celenza. Premieres April 27.
Gayme Show! | A comedic competition show, hosted by comics Matt Rogers and Dave Mizzoni, that uplifts and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Premieres April 6.
Gone Mental With Lior | Mentalist Lior Suchard runs celebrities including Kate Hudson, Ben Stiller and Zooey Deschanel through a series of mental stunts. Premieres April 6.
High & Low | Sisters Erin and Sara Foster star in a travel series that begins with a coin flip to see which of them gets the “high” experience — a luxury vacation — at their destination and which gets the “low” — a more authentic, but also more turbulent, visit. They executive produce the Renegade 83 show with David Garfinkle, Jay Renfroe and Greg Goldman.
The Hot Drop | Quibi’s first interactive series is a dating show that begins with the service “dropping” a profile of one of the most eligible singles in America at the beginning of a week. Users can then submit videos making a case to join the person on a “whirlwind adventure” of a date. Quibi will choose three finalists for each date, with users voting on who gets to join the featured single, and of course the date will be filmed. The series comes from ITV America’s Sirens Media and ITV Studios Entertainment.
I Promise | A docuseries that follows the first year of students and staff at NBA star LeBron James’ I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. James is also an executive producer. Premieres April 6.
Iron Sharpens Iron | Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is behind this fitness series in which professional athletes from two different sports push each other through a workout. Newton and Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young will be featured in the first episode, and soccer star Carli Lloyd and UFC champion Amanda Nunes will also be paired. Newton’s Iconic Saga Productions and Liquid Light created the show, with Endeavor Content’s Film 45 producing. Newton, David Ricks, Scott Brown, Mo Darwiche, Ben Monie, Peter Berg, Matthew Goldberg and Brandon Carroll are the EPs. Premieres April 20.
Killing Zac Efron | The adventure series will follow Efron (who’s also an EP) into the jungle of a “remote, dangerous island” for 21 days as he attempts to survive with only basic gear, a guide companion and his will (plus a camera crew). The show is also exec produced by Jason Barrett and Michael Simkin of Efron’s company Ninjas Runnin’ Wild and Lydia Tenaglia and Chris Collins of Zero Point Zero (Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown).
Kirby Jenner | Kendall Jenner’s “fraternal twin brother,” aka an Instagram parody account, will get his own showcase in this series documenting his daily life. Wonderland and Ventureland produce in association with E! Entertainment; executive producers are Kendall and Kris Jenner, McG, Mary Viola, Ali Brown, Rami Hachache, Howie Mandel, Gil Goldschein and Ryan Seacrest.
Let’s Roll With Tony Greenhand | The “cannabis artist” pairs with a celebrity weed enthusiast in each episode to “make their joint dreams come true.” Premieres April 13.
Life-Size Toys | Travis Pastrana and his team of daredevils from Nitro Circus will build giant versions of their favorite childhood toys — from a toy car taking on a professional rally course to an air rocket big enough to launch a person skyward — and test them out in an effort to take playground fun to a new level. The series comes from Nitro Circus Media Productions; Trip Taylor and Nitro Circus CEO Andy Edwards exec produce.
Memory Hole | Host Will Arnett takes viewers on an exploration of cringe-worthy events in pop culture that most people have either forgotten or never knew existed. Guests include Jason Bateman and Patton Oswalt. Premieres April 6.
Moving the Needle With Dr. Woo | The renowned tattoo artist offers a deep dive into his personal life and creative process in this docuseries, which he executive produces with JD Roth, Scooter Braun, Luke Mitzman and Adam Greener.
Murder House Flip | A home-renovation show with a twist: The featured houses were all the sites of mysterious murders. Mikel Welch and Joelle Uyzel host. Premieres April 6.
NightGowns | This eight-episode docuseries follows drag performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sasha Velour as she adapts her monthly revue into a full stage production, and the biggest drag showcase of her life. Each episode will focus on a single performer in the show. The Documentary Group produces, with Velour as EP and Sophie Miller directing. Premieres April 6.
Nikki Fre$h | Nicole Richie stars in the series as her hip-hop alter ego, Nikki Fre$h, who will interact with real-life experts in the wellness field to learn ways to better serve our bodies and our planet – while comedically exaggerating those ideas to the edge of sanity. The show comes from JAX Media; Richie, Michael Baum, Carrie Franklin and JAX’s Lilly Burns, Tony Hernandez and Seamus Murphy-Mitchell executive produce. Premieres April 6.
Potty Talk | Hosted by fashion designer Alexander Wang, this celebrity interview show takes place in the most intimate of settings: the bathroom. Wang will sit/squat down with celebs inside the restrooms of the most highly sought after events in entertainment, fashion and pop culture. The show comes from RadicalMedia; Wang, RadicalMedia’s Frank Scherma and Jon Kamen and Shemarya Artists’ Todd Shemarya and Josh Harrison are the executive producers.
Prodigy | World Cup star Megan Rapinoe hosts a docuseries spotlighting eight remarkable young athletes.
Punk’d and Singled Out | Revivals of two of MTV’s signature shows from the early and mid-2000s are on tap from MTV Studios, with STXTelevision also producing Punk’d. Keke Palmer (Hustlers) and Joel Kim Booster (Sunnyside) will host Singled Out, and Chance the Rapper will host Punk’d. Both premiere April 6.
Rapper Warrior Ninja | Based on a segment from The Eric Andre Show, the series combines rap battles with obstacle courses to see which rapper can best handle both disciplines at the same time. Andre hosts and executive produces with Kitao Sakurai. Sick Duck produces.
Run This City | Mark Wahlberg is an exec producer of this doc about Jasiel Correia II, who is elected the youngest mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, and is later arrested on fraud charges. Premieres April 6.
The Sauce | Viral dance stars Ayo & Teo (who boast 5 million YouTube subscribers) go on a cross-country road trip in search of the best dancers, from all styles and backgrounds, in 10 cities. Competitors at each stop will battle it out in face-to-face street competitions to show they’re the best in the country. The series comes from The Front; Thalia Mavros, Krista Manis and Kadine Anckle executive produce. Premieres April 6.
Shape of Pasta | James Beard Award-winning chef Evan Funke travels around Italy to meet with the world’s last remaining masters of pasta, showcasing the culture and history behind unique shapes of pasta in hopes of saving them from drifting into obscurity. Ugly Brother Studios produces. Premieres April 6.
Skrrt With Offset | Car enthusiast Offset, of hip-hop group Migos, hosts this series in which he and other celebrities talk about their rides and the stories behind them, topped off with a unique auto experience. STXTelevision, Large Eyes and Quality Contrl produce the series, with Scott Weintrob (Fastest Car), Kevin Lee, Pierre Thomas, Kiari “Offset” Cephus, Latabia Woodward, Jason Goldberg and Ben Bitonti as EPs. Premieres April 6.
Slugfest | Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo are executive producing this docuseries about the decades-long rivalry between DC and Marvel. Inspired by Reed Tucker’s 2017 book of the same name, the series will examine the growth of comics as an art form and look at key moments in each company’s history. Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce direct; AGBO CEO Todd Makurath, Peter Rieveschl, Nick Gilhool and Jen Casey produce.
Thanks a Million | Jennifer Lopez stars in a show in which 10 people give an influential person from their early lives $100,000 each — with the understanding that person will then pay it forward by giving $50,000 to someone else, and so on. B17 Entertainment, led by Rhett Bachner and Brien Meagher, created and will produce the series. Lopez, Kristen Bell, Karlie Kloss, Tracy Morgan, Aaron Rodgers and Alex Rodriguez are among the celebrity participants. Premieres April 6.
This Day in Useless Celebrity History | Hosted by Olympic medalist turned TV personality Adam Rippon, the daily series will revisit wild, outrageous events in celebrity history — from boy band reunions to tabloid breakups — to that have probably been forgotten but shouldn’t have been. The show, set to premiere in April 2020, comes from Hearst Originals and will be part of Quibi’s Daily Essentials slate.
You Ain’t Got These | The Chi creator and sneakerhead Lena Waithe takes a look at sneaker culture and its impact on fashion in a docuseries from Boardwalk Pictures (Chef’s Table, Last Chance U). Waithe exec produces with Boardwalk’s Andrew Fried, Jordan Wynn and Dane Lillegard, Jonathan Hausfater and Andrew Coles. Premieres April 6.
Untitled basketball documentary | NBA star Stephen Curry and his Unanimous Media are executive producing a series about the basketball team at St. Benedict’s Preparatory High School in Newark, New Jersey. It is being developed and produced by Whistle.
Untitled music competition | Music mogul Scooter Braun will produce and serve as a judge for the show. Details are few, but Katzenberg has said it will be “unique and differentiated” from other singing competitions.
Untitled Trevor Noah series | The Daily Show host will chronicle a tour to the far corners of the country and beyond and give viewers a look at the incredible places he visits and the candid interactions he has with people along the way. It will also show how those experience shape his point of view and his stand-up comedy. Noah’s Day Zero Productions produces with Comedy Central Productions, Bob Bain Productions and Mainstay Entertainment. Noah, Haroon Saleem, Bob Bain, Norman Aladjem, Derek Van Pelt and Sanaz Yamin exec produce.
Untitled Cara Delevingne series | Delevingne (Amazon’s Carnival Row) will host and executive produce a show in which she and a team of female accomplices execute a stunt or practical joke in each episode, often putting themselves in unwieldy and unpredictable situations. The show comes from Sirens Media, an ITV America company. Delevingne exec produces with Jessica Sebastian.
Untitled Rosie Huntington-Whiteley series | The British model will interview “icons of the beauty world” about how they rose to the top of the industry. The docuseries comes from executive producers Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz (Top Chef, Project Runway), Dan Volpe and Kim Ray of Alfred Street Industries; Huntington-Whiteley and Lily Berg are also EPs.
DAILY PROGRAMMING
60 in 6 | The team behind CBS News’ venerable 60 Minutes will produce an original weekly program exclusively for Quibi. The show will have a dedicated team of correspondents and producers and will present an original story in each six-minute episode. Production has been paused after CBS News staffers were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.
All the Feels by the Dodo | Feel-good animal stories delivered each day. Premieres April 6.
Around the World by BBC News | A daily look at the most important and illuminating international stories. Premieres April 6.
Close Up by E! News | Daily rundown of celebrity and pop culture news. Premieres April 6.
The Daily Chill | A show that aims to take viewers on a pathway to calmness, combining guided meditation and awe-inspiring visuals. Premieres April 6.
Fashion’s a Drag | A daily fashion review show hosted by drag queen Willam (RuPaul’s Drag Race season four), with a panel of fellow drag queens and an expert from Elle magazine breaking down hot trends and dishing on style. The show comes from Hearst Originals. Premieres April 6.
For the Cultura by Telemundo | Celebrating Latinx pop culture. Premieres April 6.
Fresh Daily by Rotten Tomatoes | Recommendations for the best in TV, movies and streaming.
Hot Off the Mic | Comedians offer their takes on the news of the day, taped at comedy clubs across the country. Production delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Last Night’s Late Night | A daily recap of the highlights from the previous evening’s late-night shows. From Entertainment Weekly and hosted by Heather Gardner. Premieres April 6.
Morning Report, Evening Report, Saturday Report, Sunday Report by NBC News | Headlines, analysis and explainers from the NBC News team. The Sunday show will take an in-depth look at a single issue. Premieres April 6.
NewsDay and NewsNight by CTV News | Two daily newscasts curated for Canadians. Premieres April 6.
The Nod With Brittany & Eric | A daily version of the popular black culture podcast hosted by Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings. Premieres April 6.
No Filter by TMZ | Twice-daily content from inside the TMZ newsroom. Premieres April 6.
Pop5 | Everything worth talking about in popular music. Premieres April 6.
Pulso News by Telemundo | Daily newscast aimed at English-speaking Latinx viewers. Premieres April 6.
The Rachel Hollis Show | A daily motivational talk show hosted by the author of Girl, Stop Apologizing. It’s produced by The Hollis Company’s 3% Chance Productions and Den of Thieves. Premieres April 6.
The Replay by ESPN | News and analysis of the biggest stories in sports. Premieres April 6.
Sexology With Shan Boodram | Intimacy expert Boodram guides viewers through the world of sex, relationships and dating. Premieres April 6.
Speedrun by Polygon | A hyperfast injection of news for gaming and gaming-adjacent viewers, plus expert analysis and recommendations. Premieres April 6.
Trailers by Fandango | Daily rundown of newly released trailers.Premieres April 6.
Weather Today by the Weather Channel | Premieres April 6.
Untitled TSN sports show | A morning sports update, seven days a week, from Canada’s leading sports network. Premieres April 6.
Your Daily Horoscope | Blending astrology, humor and adult animation, the show will deliver horoscopes each day as part of Quibi’s Daily Essentials programming. The series follows 12 millennial zodiac characters who work at a technology startup, Estrella; viewers will have access to their complete horoscope reading and get to see it play out via their sign’s character. The series is created by ATTN: and executive produced by Will Arnett and his company, Electric Avenue, and Tom Werner.
