Oscar-winning filmmaker and Golden Hour queen Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals, The Rider) has inked a multi-year first-look deal with Searchlight Television. Through the deal, Searchlight Television will have a first look on series for exclusive development.
Zhao previously worked with Searchlight on the Oscar-winning Nomadland. The new deal with the studio marks Zhao’s first dip into series.
“Chloe is a visionary filmmaker and, since the moment we finished Nomadland, we have looked to find new ways to collaborate again,” said Searchlight Presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum. “We are inspired by the breadth of Chloe’s storytelling passions and are beyond happy to be able to link arms and expand the opportunities to support personal, powerful, and enduring stories.”
Nomadland was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning three for Best Picture, Director and Actress. The film also became the first ever to win both the Venice Golden Lion and the Toronto People’s Choice Audience Prize, and garnered four BAFTA Awards, four Critic’s Choice Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, two IFP Gotham Awards, and PGA and DGA awards.
The news comes fresh off of Amanda Seyfried’s Emmy win for Searchlight Television’s first production, The Dropout. The series also earned five nominations. Searchlight Television is also producing the Hulu Original variety series History of the World, Part II”, the follow up to the classic Mel Brooks comedy film in partnership with 20th Television; the eight-part series adaptation of The Full Monty, in partnership with FX and co-commissioned by Disney+ and FX; and the Spanish-Language limited series La Máquina, with Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, both also for Hulu. The division develops and produces series for streaming, network, and cable partners.
Zhao is repped by Pangea and Ilene Feldman Management and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark.
