Westbrook Studios


News round -up: RTS Switzerland picks up ‘Runes’; ‘Willow’ creator clarifies future; ‘Bel-Air’ renewed for S3

RTS Switzerland picks up ‘Runes’ RTS Switzerland has picked up Les Armateurs’ animated series Runes, following a deal with French production and distribution company, Prime Entertainment Group. The 26 x 22-minute Runes follows the story of 12-year-old William, heir to the throne of Normandy. After his father’s death, William seeks refuge in the village of […]

Westbrook Studios takes full control of Global Screen owner Telepool

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s production firm Westbrook Studios has taken full control of Germany’s Telepool, after acquiring the 50% of the company it didn’t already own from Swiss outfit Elysian Invest. The Smith’s company, which itself received minority backing from Kevin Mayer and Tom Stagg’s Candle Media earlier this week, had first invested […]

Kevin Mayer & Tom Staggs’ Candle Media buys into Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios

Candle Media, the private equity-backed investment firm launched by former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, has taken a minority stake in Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios. The deal follows reports last year that Mayer and Staggs’ Blackstone Group-backed firm was looking to buy into the prodco, which was founded in […]

ABC re-teams with Jay-Z, Will Smith & Aaron Kaplan for second Mamie Till-Mobley docuseries

ABC in the US has commissioned another limited docuseries exploring the true story of Mamie Till-Mobley, whose quest for justice for her murdered son, Emmett Till, sparked the US civil rights movement in the 1950s. ABC News is producing Let The World See in association with Roc Nation, Westbrook Studios, Kapital Entertainment and Cobble Hill […]

Westbrook Studios taps former Vice exec Jannat Gargi as documentary head

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studio’s has appointed former Vice Studios VP of documentaries, Jannat Gargi, as SVP and head of documentaries. Gargi, who joins the company at the end of the month will oversee development on its documentary slate and report to co-presidents Terence Carter and Jon Mone. Westbrook, which was launched […]

Kevin Mayer’s investment firm eyes Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios is reportedly exploring a sale to Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs’ Blackstone Group-backed venture. The as-yet-unnamed company, which is backed by US private equity firm Blackstone, acquired Reese Witherspoon’s Big Little Lies producer Hello Sunshine last month in a deal valued at $900m. If it […]

Netflix preps African queen docudrama from Westbrook & Nutopia

Netflix has handed a two-season order to Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Nutopia for a new docudrama series about African queens. Pinkett Smith is set to executive produce the as-yet-untitled series, which is being written by Peres Owino (Bound: Africans vs African-Americans) and NneNne Iwuji (Yellow). The show will follow a […]

Nat Geo inks first-look Westbrook deal & expands adventure slate

Disney-backed National Geographic is expanding its adventure-based slate, by signing a five-year first-look unscripted deal with Westbrook Studios and making a slew of new commissions. The Westbrook agreement covers the development of all unscripted projects in the areas of adventure, exploration, travel and science for all of National Geographic’s TV platforms and its Disney+ originals. […]

Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios partners with EbonyLife to tell African stories

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Nigerian media company EbonyLife Media are partnering on a multi-project scripted slate connected to Africa. Under the partnership, the two studios will produce two series and one film project including an “Afropolitan” dramedy series Dada Safaris, which follows four friends who mke a go of running a […]

TBI Weekly: How TV is finding fresh talent in “bedroom creators”

The hunt for the next big thing in TV doesn’t always necessarily mean snagging the hottest new IP or nailing down every proven content creator in sight to a first-look deal. Developments this week highlight how online and short-form platforms can offer a stage for emerging talent with fresh things to say and that savvy […]