Ryan Coogler's Proximity Media, the production company he co-founded in 2018, has signed a multi-year deal with Netflix.
According to Variety, the company, which also counts Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian as its co-founders, has signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix to exclusively develop TV series for the platform.
The announcement comes not long after Proximity Media’s five-year TV deal with Disney — for which they produced Ironheart and the docuseries Hurricane Katrina: A Race Against Time, among other projects — expired earlier this year.
"We started Proximity Media with a simple goal: to tell event-driven stories that bring people in close proximity with often overlooked subjects. As we continue to expand Proximity’s television business, we’re thrilled to partner with Netflix, a company that has consistently demonstrated its commitment to distinctive creators and original storytelling," said the Cooglers and Ohanian in a joint statement. "We look forward to working alongside Bela, Jinny, Nne and the entire Netflix team as we bring stories to television audiences around the world."
Netflix's head of U.S. and Canada scripted series', Jinny Howe, also celebrated the announcement. "Proximity Media has built a remarkable reputation for championing visionary creators and producing stories that resonate deeply with audiences worldwide," he said. "We are excited to welcome the entire Proximity team to Netflix and look forward to bringing their next slate of groundbreaking series to life alongside Nne Ebong and our studio team."
Proximity Media is currently developing an X-Files reboot at Hulu starring Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel, and an adaptation of the comic book series Southern Bastards for Hulu featuring Kevin Bacon, Erin Kellyman, and Tim McGraw. Since Hulu is owned by Walt Disney Company subsidiary Disney Streaming, those two series will remain in development at Disney.
Proximity Media signed a five-year exclusive overall TV deal with Disney in 2018, where the team also produced the animated Black Panther series
On the film side of things, the company hit new heights last year with the success of the Warner Bros. Pictures-distributed Sinners. Made on a $90 million budget, Sinners earned $365 million at the global box office. The film also garnered a record-breaking 16 nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, ultimately picking up four, including Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan.
