Legendary Television signs Ben Stiller prodco Red Hour

Legendary Pictures’ new television unit has followed the addition of ex-Warner Bros. chief Bruce Rosenblum as president by signing actor Ben Stiller’s production firm Red Hour to a multi-year pact.

Red Hour Films has partnered with Legendary Television and Digital to create new programming for television and digital, and the deal will begin when Stiller’s current pact with Viacom-owned Paramount finishes.

This comes after Legendary added former Warner Bros. television boss Rosenblum to lead its television unit following his exit from the studio after failing to become its new president last year. That role was taken by Kevin Tsujihara.

Debbie Liebling, who is president of Red Hour Television, will continue to oversee programming development, while Red Hour’s director of digital Mike Rosenstein will run digital activities with new Legendary Digital Media president Tom Lesinki. The pair previously worked together on an upcoming animated web spin off of Stiller comedy movie Zoolander.

Legendary’s executive VP, scripted entertainment Peter Johnson will also work on programme development.

Red Hour, which Stiller runs with Stuart Cornfeld, is producing shows such as IFC’s Birthday Boys and has had comedies in development at ABC.