Ryan & Zinzi Coogler’s Proximity Media Announces New Deal With Netflix: Two Women Executives Set To Develop Scripted Series
In an unexpected collaboration, Proximity Media, the multi-platform production company founded by Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian, has officially signed an exclusive, multi-year overall television deal with Netflix. The high-profile partnership comes immediately after the conclusion of Proximity’s five-year TV pact with Disney.
According to TUDUM by Netflix, Proximity Media will exclusively develop and produce new series for Netflix, marking one of the streamer’s most anticipated collaborations.
The deal lands one of Hollywood’s most commercially and critically successful independent banners. Coogler is fresh off the massive success of the Warner Bros. feature Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan, bringing in over $365 million globally and earning 16 Academy Award nominations, as reported by Deadline.
The creative partnership will be overseen by key women executives on both sides of the deal. Proximity Media’s television division is headed by VP of Television Simone Harris, who has successfully overseen a sucessful series with Disney, including Marvel Studios’ Ironheart and National Geographic’s Hurricane Katrina: A Race Against Time. The latter became the National Geographic’s most-watched series ever in the U.S. on Disney streaming platforms. Simone will be collaborating with Kelli Buchannan, who is the head of Proximity’s Non-Fiction division. Together they will bring audiences new series.
TUDUM also reports that the partnership will be brought to life in close collaboration with Vice President of Scripted Series Nne Ebong, alongside Jinny Howe, Netflix’s Head of US and Canada Scripted Series.
“Proximity Media has built a remarkable reputation for championing visionary creators and producing stories that resonate deeply with audiences worldwide,” Howe said in a statement. “The company’s founders have cultivated an award-winning television division that continues to push the boundaries of storytelling. We are excited to welcome the entire Proximity team to Netflix and look forward to bringing their next slate of groundbreaking series to life alongside Nne Ebong and our studio team.”
Despite moving its future television development exclusively to Netflix, Proximity Media will still see out its remaining commitments at Disney. Under Harris’ leadership, the company is currently producing pilots for Hulu’s highly anticipated The X-Files reboot starring Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel, as well as a live-action adaptation of Southern Bastards starring Kevin Bacon.
In a joint statement, Proximity’s founders expressed excitement for the company’s next chapter of television expansion: “We started Proximity Media with a simple goal: to tell event-driven stories that bring people in close proximity with often overlooked subjects. As we continue to expand Proximity’s television business, we’re thrilled to partner with Netflix, a company that has consistently demonstrated its commitment to distinctive creators and original storytelling. We look forward to working alongside Bela, Jinny, Nne, and the entire Netflix team as we bring a new generation of stories to audiences around the world.”
