Sonar lands Downey Jr deal

Robert Downey Jr and Susan Downey’s production outfit has entered into a first-look deal with Sonar Entertainment and has already developed its first project under the deal.

The agreement encompasses scripted and non-scripted content for television, including digital, and the first project generated under the arrangement is Singularity.

The series has been created by Downey Jr, who directs, and Anthony Michael Hall (War Machine), who will star. Further details are yet to be revealed.

“We are excited about Team Downey’s vision for developing and producing a broad scope of original premium content,” said Thomas Lesinski, CEO at Sonar Entertainment.

“Sonar is thrilled to partner with Robert, Susan and the entire team – it is another example of our commitment to forge creative collaborations with the most dynamic talent in the industry.”

The partnership with Team Downey is the latest in a series of first-look deals announced by Sonar. Other partners include George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures and StoryBy Entertainment.

In September, Sonar revealed it was undertaking a “major expansion” of its sales division with the appointment of senior Lionsgate and Sky Vision execs and plans for a new Asian office.

Sonar, which rebranded in 2012, is behind fantasy series The Shannara Chronicles and appointed Lesinski as its permanent CEO after the industry veteran took the role on an interim basis last year.

Ex-FremantleMedia International boss David Ellender joined from Slingshot, his own prodco, in March and the company is distributing Taboo, the first series to come out of actor Tom Hardy’s prodco, penned by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight for the BBC and FX.