Multi-year Deal Provides for First Look on all Day Zero Projects in
all Media Including TV, Feature Films and Short-Form Video
Film Adaptation of "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African
Childhood" First Project Under Deal; Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong'o
Attached to Star
Viacom to Make Investment in Day Zero
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) today announced a strategic partnership
with Day Zero Productions, an international production and distribution
company led by Trevor Noah, host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show
with Trevor Noah." Under the long-term deal, Viacom will have exclusive
"first look" rights on all projects developed by Noah and Day Zero
Productions in all media, including television, feature films, digital
and short-form video content. Viacom will also make an investment in Day
Zero.
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Trevor Noah of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" (Photo: Comedy Central)
As part of the expanded relationship, Paramount Players will adapt as a
feature film Noah's memoir, "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African
Childhood," to which Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong'o is attached to
star as Trevor's mother, Patricia. Noah will produce the project through
his Day Zero Productions alongside Norman Aladjem, Derek Van Pelt and
Sanaz Yamin of Mainstay Entertainment, and Nyong'o through her Eba
Productions. South African born Liesl Tommy, who earned a Tony
nomination for her work directing Nyong'o in the play "Eclipsed," will
direct the film.
Bob Bakish, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom, said,
"Working with the best, most versatile talent in the entertainment
industry is a strategic priority for Viacom, which is why we are
thrilled to expand our relationship with Trevor and his creative team at
Day Zero with this cross-house partnership. Trevor's creative
sensibilities and ability to drive the cultural conversation around
issues that matter to our young, global audiences make him an ideal
partner for Viacom across every screen we serve. We are particularly
proud that 'Born a Crime' will be produced and distributed by Paramount."
Kent Alterman, President of Comedy Central, said, "The degree to which
people underestimated Trevor as he took over ‘The Daily Show' has made
his success all the more meaningful. Seeing audiences on multiple
platforms embrace his incredible comedy chops, his thoughtful and
nuanced point of view, and his global perspective has been gratifying
beyond measure. Trevor has limitless curiosity, vision and passion. He
is just getting started."
Trevor Noah added, "I've found a strong and incredibly valuable
partnership in Viacom. Our shared vision of bringing diverse cultural
conversations and exciting creative projects to the forefront of the
entertainment industry and to our constantly expanding audience,
continues to strengthen our relationship. I couldn't be more excited to
share 'Born a Crime' with Paramount and the very talented Lupita
Nyong'o."
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah is the most successful comedian in Africa and is the host of
the Emmy Award-winning "The
Daily Show with Trevor Noah" on Comedy Central, for which he is also
an executive producer and writer. An international stand-up star, Trevor
has performed to sold out audiences on five continents across the globe
and has recorded nine stand-up specials, with his most recent, "Afraid
of the Dark," debuting last February. His first book, "Born a Crime:
Stories from a South African Childhood," was released in November 2016
and became an instant New York Times bestseller, as well as Audible's
highest-rated audiobook of 2016. "Born a Crime" received the Thurber
Prize for American Humor and two NAACP Image Awards, one for Outstanding
Literary Work by a Debut Author and another for Outstanding Literary
Work in the Biography/Auto-Biography category.
Noah, who took over as host of "The Daily Show" in September 2015 and recently
signed an extension keeping him as host through 2022, earned his
first Emmy Award last year for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series for
his hosting role on "The
Daily Show: Between The Scenes," in addition to Best Host at the
2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards and the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding
Talk Show Episode. During his time at "The Daily Show" he has also
received consecutive Writers Guild Award nominations for Comedy/Variety
Series, a Critics Choice Award nomination for Best Talk Show, and five
NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding
Host in a Talk or News/Information Show. Trevor was also nominated for
"Personality of the Year" at the 2014 and 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards
and won the award in 2015.
Born in South Africa to a black South African mother and a white
European father, Trevor hosted numerous television shows prior to taking
the helm of "The Daily Show," including South Africa's music, television
and film awards, and two seasons of his own late-night talk show,
"Tonight with Trevor Noah." He was the subject of David Paul Meyer's
award-winning documentary film "You Laugh But It's True" which tells the
story of his remarkable career in post-apartheid South Africa. Trevor's
untitled follow-up to "Born a Crime" will be published by Random House
and Audible Studios this Fall and will pick up where "Born a Crime"
ends, following his journey from an aspiring young comedian in reborn
South Africa to the cusp of global success.
About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling
entertainment content - including television programs, motion pictures,
short-form content, games, consumer products, podcasts, live events and
social media experiences - for audiences in 183 countries. Viacom's
media networks, including Nickelodeon, Nick
Jr., MTV, BET, Comedy
Central, Paramount
Network, VH1, TV
Land, CMT, Logo, Channel
5 (UK), Telefe (Argentina), Colors (India)
and Paramount Channel, reach approximately 4.3 billion cumulative
television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global
producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Paramount Television
develops, finances and produces original programming for television and
digital platforms.
For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com.
Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's company blog at blog.viacom.com,
Twitter feed at twitter.com/viacom
and Facebook page facebook.com/viacom.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180326005277/en/
Viacom Inc.
Justin Dini, 212-846-2724
justin.dini@viacom.com
or
Trevor
Noah
Jill Fritzo Public Relations, on behalf of Trevor Noah
Jill
Fritzo
jfritzo@jillfritzopr.com
Source: Viacom Inc.
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