The Oscar winning writing/producing/directing duo of Phil Lord and Chris Miller have put their names on a five-year deal with Sony Pictures Television. While details of that deal are currently under wraps, it's rumored to be for nine figures (damn).
As for what the agreement will ask of them, the two are set to develop animated shows in addition to live-action comedy and drama series through their Lord Miller Productions company. The deal will allow them to oversee Marvel's TV unvierse (that's a big one). It will also see them put together their own projects for streaming platforms and regular cable/network outlets while simultaneously developing and supervising the projects of other writers.
Again, while details are sparse at the moment, Deadline says that Sony is prioritizing a "suite of TV series based on Sony’s Universe of Marvel characters, referred to as Spider-verse." In fact, that's reportedly what got several companies to bid on Lord and Miller's services, no doubt driving their price up. Lord and Miller won Oscars for the work they put in on late 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Both were credited as producers for the animated film, while Lord also put together the story and wrote the screenplay.
The two had spent the last nine years with 20th Century Fox, and had served as executive producers for several series' while there. Those include: The Last Man On Earth, Making History, and Son of Zorn. They still do business with that company (which was recently acquired by Disney), and are set for billing as executive producers on upcoming animated series Hoops (for Netflix) and also upcoming animated series Bless the Harts (for Fox). Their resumes also have space for their writing and directing debuts, 2009's Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, as well as The Lego Movie (2014), and The Lego Movie 2 (2019), plus the feature films 21 and 22 Jump Street.
“This is a significant milestone for our television business, having the opportunity to work with two of the most creative forces in the industry in both our film and television businesses,” said Mike Hopkins, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television. “Building on our strong IP and creating new franchises has been a key focus for SPE, and the best way to do that is to invest in remarkable storytellers like Phil and Chris. We are thrilled to welcome them to the SPT family, and I want to thank Jeff, Chris and Jason for all their hard work in pulling this deal together.”
Sony Pictures Television Studios president Jeff Frost added to that by saying “Phil and Chris have reimagined every medium and genre they have touched. Whether it’s television, features or animation, they have created their own unique brand and style. We are so excited to be working with these brilliant creators and showrunners and are looking forward to collaborating with them in every aspect of television – comedy, drama, animation and beyond.”
Unsurprisingly, Lord and Miller also released a statement in which they said "We are so grateful to everyone at Sony Pictures Television for choosing to partner with us and expand our enduring relationship with the studio." They continued, "Together we aim to make groundbreaking work of the highest quality and integrity, and to place that work in convenient proximity to your eyeballs and earholes, wherever you may be."
