The Knick creators, executive producers and showrunners Jack Amiel and Michael Begler are returning to the HBO fold with a rich three-year overall deal. Under the pact, said to be in the eight-figure range, the duo have been tapped as writers, executive producers and showrunners for Season 2 of HBO’s drama series Perry Mason starring Matthew Rhys.
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‘The Real Magic Mike’ Competition Series From Channing Tatum and Steven Soderbergh Set at HBO Max
Is there still some magic in that Mike? HBO Max (https://variety.com/t/hbo-max/) will soon find out: The streamer has ordered “The Real Magic Mike (https://variety.com/t/magic-mike/),” a reality competition from the producers of the “Magic Mike” movies. Eureka Productions, the prolific unscripted producers behind “Holey Moley” and “Dating Around,” and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon, will bring the show to HBO Max later in 2021.
On the show, 10 men who’ve “lost their magic,” as the logline says, will compete for a cash prize and a spot in the “Magic Mike Live” show in Las Vegas. As with the 2012 “Magic Mike” movie — inspired by Channing Tatum (https://variety.com/t/channing-tatum/)’s experiences as a stripper, and directed by Steven Soderbergh — the show appears to have an emotional heart. The logline says, “they will bare their souls and more as they evolve their bodies,” as they learn their routines and “develop a new level of self-confidence.” Casting is currently underway.
Authors Guild, HMH, Sugar23 Books Partner to Publish Benefit Collaborative Novel
The Authors Guild Foundation, the charitable arm of the Authors Guild, has reached a deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to publish Fourteen Days: An Authorized Gathering, a collaborative novel edited by the acclaimed novelist Margaret Atwood, that will feature the writing of more than a dozen notable authors.
The book will be published by HMH’s Sugar23 Books imprint in spring 2022 and all proceeds will go to the Authors Guild Foundation. HMH editorial director Millicent Bennett acquired world rights to the project for the Sugar23 Books imprint, which is directed by Angela Ledgerwood. The imprint is also a division of Sugar23, an entertainment media company founded by Academy Award-winning film producer Michael Sugar. The guild was represented by Dan Conaway of Writers House, who waived his commission for the project.
Sugar23, Professional Fighters League Partner on New Studio
The Professional Fighters League and Sugar23 have partnered together on a new studio. The partnership will focus on two main areas — producing mixed martial arts (MMA) content that will not air live, as well as creating entertainment opportunities for the league’s star fighters.
The new content collaboration will include both long and short-form content, designed to be featured on various media platforms.