Ellender teams up with Keanu Reeves

Slingshot Global Media, the fledgling production firm set up by former FremantleMedia International CEO David Ellender, is working with Keanu Reeves on the star’s first major TV role.

Rain, adapted from the novels by Barry Eisler, will follow a half-Japanese, half-American contract assassin who specialises in taking out his targets by making it appear they died from natural causes.

Reeves will play the title character and the show will use material from Eisler’s novels including A Clean Kill in Tokyo, A Lonely Resurrection and Redemption Games.

The Matrix star is also attached as executive producer, alongside Chad Stahelski, David Leitch and Slingshot, which will distribute the series.

Ellender said the show would be a “launch pad for the company and highlight our talent-focused, quality-based approach within the ever-changing and expanding television space.”

LA-based Slingshot was formed in February in partnership with TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity investment arm of Texas Pacific Group, which will finance the venture.

This is the first major project for the company which is seeking to work with talent to develop series and limited-run programming for both traditional broadcast and cable networks, as well as on-demand and premium pay services.

The move marked the beginning of a new career path for Ellender, who left FremantleMedia International last August following a restructure at the company.

As Slingshot’s CEO, Ellender oversees the development, financing, production and distribution of scripted TV content.