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A+E signs up Elizabeth Vargas

US media giant A+E Networks has signed a production deal with award-winning journalist Elizabeth Vargas.

Elizabeth Vargas

Vargas will be the figurehead for A+E channel A&E’s new documentary label A&E Investigates and will work with the network to develop and produce series through newly launched non-fiction development company A+E Originals.

Initial projects under the A&E Investigates strand, for which A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights, will see Vargas look at cults, extreme religious sects, Russian spies living in the US and the alarming number of child brides in the country.

Vargas recently co-hosted news magazine show 20/20 and previously served as co-anchor of World News Tonight, anchor of World News Tonight Sunday, and news anchor and frequent co-host of Good Morning America.

It is the second overall deal A+E has signed with an individual for A+E Originals, following the agreement with actor Leah Remini, host of recently renewed A&E hit exposé series Leah Remini: Scientology & the Aftermath.

A&E Investigates projects Vargas is currently involved in include Cults & Extreme Belief (9×60’), where she investigates controversial organisations alongside former members to uncover how they use their influence to prey upon people’s desperation.

The series is produced by The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) in the US with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman exec producing for IPC along with showrunner Alex Weresow and Rachelle Mendez. Elaine Frontain Bryant, Amy Savitsky and Evan Lerner serve as exec producers for A&E.

Child Brides (working title, 1×120’) focuses on the large number of young girls forced into marriages against their will, a practice that is entirely legal with parental consent.

The film is produced by ITV America-owned Sirens Media for A&E, with Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh and Jordana Hochman exec producing for the prodco and Frontain Bryant, Savitsky and Molly Ebinger for A&E.

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