Universal Global TV signs first-look deal with Viola Davis, Julius Tennon’s JuVee

Universal Global Television (UGT) has signed a first-look deal with JuVee Productions, the entertainment banner led by US actor Viola Davis and producer Julius Tennon.

Viola Davis

AB+DM Studio

Under the deal, JuVee Productions will develop and produce shows alongside UGT, a new entity formed last month following the merger of two of NBCUniversal’s in-house studio units, Universal International Studios and Universal Content Productions.

The first project being developed under the deal is Pawn, about a woman who makes a deal to become a pawn for St Louis crime family the Rossis, in exchange for money to pay for her ailing grandmother’s medical treatments.

Pawn is based on an original short story by author Kennedy Ryan (Before I Let Go, Score) exclusively for Universal Studio Group, with Chantelle M Wells (Daredevil: Born Again, Yellowjackets) writing the screen adaptation. Davis, Tennon and Andrew Wang are executive producing for JuVee alongside Wells and Ryan.

Julius Tennon

Shannon Youngclaus

Davis has appeared in TV series such as How to Get Away with Murder (ABC), while her film credits include Fences (2016), The Help (2011) and Doubt (2008). Tennon has screen credits on projects such as Air, Batman v Superman, Friday Night Lights, Dazed & Confused and Criminal Minds. Davis and Tennon serve as CEO and president respectively of JuVee Productions.

“Viola, Julius and Andrew have built JuVee into a home for dynamic and powerful stories – a commitment we are proud to partner with them on, beginning with the excellent and gripping Pawn,” said UGT president Beatrice Springborn.