Ice Cube’s Cube Vision expands partnership with Paramount Global
Paramount Global has expanded its partnership with rapper and actor Ice Cube and his production company Cube Vision with a first-look deal for television.
Under the first-look deal, Ice Cube (real name O’Shea Jackson Sr) and Jeff Kwatinetz, chief operating officer of Cube Vision and Ice Cube’s producing partner, will develop and executive produce projects for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms across Paramount.
The deal kicks off with an untitled scripted project in development at Showtime Studios that explores the cutthroat world of Hollywood through the black experience and the depths an explosive cast of characters go in pursuit of power and the price of fame.
The expanded partnership stems from the media giant’s long-standing relationship with Ice Cube, which has seen the parties work together on Big3 basketball league that airs on CBS, Hip Hop Squares for VH1.
They have also worked together on many music-related projects over the years, as well as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, the movie co-written by Seth Rogen and starring Ice Cube in its voice cast.
“Ice Cube is a bona fide powerhouse whose enduring impact on music, film, TV and sports resonates with generations of fans,” said Nina L Diaz, president of content and chief creative officer at Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “It’s a privilege to build on our relationship with Cube Vision and continue to bring his trailblazing storytelling to audiences around the world.”
Ice Cube and Kwatinetz added in a joint statement: “This deal provides us with everything we need to bring amazing and authentic stories to television working with the best writers, showrunners and television innovators in the entire business.”
The agreement comes as Paramount Global prepares to merge with Skydance Media to form a new entity next year in a deal that was confirmed on July 7 after a dramatic months-long sales process.
The incoming leadership team for New Paramount recently laid out its key priorities, including finding over US$2bn in cost savings, growing its animation business and committing to remaining in the direct-to-consumer space.