Hollywood feature-film director Tim Story sets first-look TV deal with eOne

Transatlantic producer and distributor Entertainment One (eOne) has inked a first-look television deal with film and TV director Tim Story and his production banner The Story Company.

Tim Story (photo: The Collins Jackson Agency)

Under the deal, Story, who has directed 10 major studio feature films, will develop series for broadcast, cable and streaming. He has hired former Freeform and ABC exec Lynn Barrie as head of television at The Story Company, where she will oversee the eOne deal.

“Tim is a remarkably talented director and producer who has created some of Hollywood’s most beloved films,” said eOne’s president of global television, Michael Lombardo, formerly president of programming at HBO.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with him as he continues his exciting expansion into television and look forward to creating even more impactful projects together.”

The first-look agreement reunites Lombardo and Story, who was previously under a first-look deal at HBO when Lombardo held the president of programming role.

“Michael and I have a long history and it feels so great to be back in business again. I believe with the team that I’ve assembled we can deliver some great programming,” said Story, who recently executive produced the ABC television drama Queens starring Brandy, Eve and Naturi Naughton. His other executive producer credits include Netflix’s Prince of Peoria and Showtime’s White Famous.

On the film side, Story has directed major studio features such as Tom & Jerry, Ride Along, Ride Along 2, Think Like a Man, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Barbershop and Fantastic Four. He was the first black director to direct a Marvel film and his films have grossed more than US$1bn at the box office, making him the first black director to hit that milestone.

Most recently Barrie was senior VP of original programming and development at Freeform, where she oversaw projects such as the comedy Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, supernatural drama Motherland: Fort Salem, drama Cruel Summer and upcoming comedies Single Drunk Female and Everything’s Trash. Prior to that she was VP of comedy development at ABC.