Sony Pictures TV signs first-look deal with Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife

Sony Pictures Television (SPT), a US entertainment firm formerly called Columbia Pictures, has signed a first-look deal with EbonyLife Media, a firm owned by Mo Abudu, a Nigerian producer.

According to Variety, the two-year deal is aimed at developing scripted African TV series set for a global audience.

In the deal, which started in January, it is understood that SPT will get a first look at the new EbonyLife-controlled scripted television projects created, originated, or developed by EbonyLife but targeted at broader audiences.

Speaking on the partnership, Abudu said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Sony Pictures Television over the last few years, and we are so pleased to be deepening our partnership with them.

“Taking African storytelling to global audiences is something we are very passionate about, and this new opportunity with Sony gives us a chance to reach massive audiences worldwide with our scripted TV series.”

Taking African storytelling to global audiences is something we are very passionate about, and this new opportunity with Sony gives us a chance to reach massive audiences worldwide with our scripted TV series.

So get ready – we are coming to entertain and thrill you! 💪🏿❤️💪🏿❤️

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— Mo Abudu (@MoAbudu) February 4, 2021

On its part, SPT’s Nina Lederman added: “We are delighted to be broadening our relationship with Mo and the team at EbonyLife, who have created some of the most compelling and successful content in all of Africa.”

This is the second deal SPT is doing with EbonyLife, following a three-project co-development/production partnership in 2018. The first project announced as part of that deal was a series inspired by the story of the Dahomey Warriors.

In June 2020, Netflix, an American media production and streaming brand, had similarly partnered with Abudu for the movie adaptation of books by Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian playwright, and Lola Shoneyin, an indigenous novelist.