Chuck Lorre signs four-year deal with Warner Bros., moves into drama

Chuck Lorre has renewed a deal with Warner Bros. Television. The overall development and production deal means that, Lorre, the most successful comedy producer in the world in recent years, will stay at the studio for another four years and branch out beyond comedy for the first time.

Chuck Lorre

The new deal will allow Lorre to move into drama and make shows for broadcast and cable networks.

His current hit sitcoms Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and Mike & Molly are all network shows, airing on CBS. He will continue to exec produce all three shows.

“Chuck Lorre is the quintessential comedy writer/producer of our time, the most successful creator/showrunner of the last 25 years in this business,” said Warner Bros. Television president Peter Roth. “Chuck has had a profound impact on Warner Bros. Television over the last 12 years, and we look forward to a long and successful future relationship.”

Lorre said: “I’m proud to say that at twelve years and counting, my relationship with Warner Bros. is now officially longer than either of my marriages. With that in mind, it seemed appropriate to extend our little corporate love affair and try for ‘until death do us part.’ I’m also excited to have an opportunity to venture into the world of drama. After writing and producing sitcoms for twenty years, it’ll be a welcome relief to take all the violence, insanity and human suffering from behind the cameras and put it out front.”

Prior to WBTV, Lorre created and executive produced the hit sitcoms Dharma & Greg, Grace Under Fire and Cybill, and he also was a co-executive producer/writer on the long-running hit comedy Roseanne.