‘Mr Black’
When Adam Zwar first pitched the Mr Black concept to CJZ, group CEO Matt Campbell was immediately impressed, telling Zwar: “This is so formattable, everyone can relate to the character.”
So it has proved as CJZ has signed a format deal with Fox Entertainment’s SideCar, a content development accelerator launched earlier this year by Hollywood heavy-hitter Gail Berman.
SideCar has made a script development commitment to the single-camera comedy, with Berman, a former president both of Fox Entertainment and Paramount Pictures, as executive producer.
Several US production companies were chasing the remake rights. Campbell tells IF that SideCar won mostly due to the enthusiasm of Berman, who told him: “We have been waiting for a show like Mr Black to come along. We’re thrilled to have him.”
The LA-based Zwar, who co-created Squinters, Lowdown and Wilfred, is expected to be involved in the development of the remake.
The Australian series created by Zwar and Amanda Brotchie and directed by Brotchie and Clayton Jacobson starred Stephen Curry as the curmudgeonly title character who is determined to break up the relationship between his daughter Angela (Sophie Wright) and her live-in boyfriend Fin (Nick Russell).
Network 10 is yet to announce a second series but is funding the development of scripts and plot lines.
SideCar’s remit is to identify and incubate scripted and unscripted programming both for the Fox network and third-party platforms, complementing the network’s own development. Fox Entertainment will retain ownership of all series that originate under the SideCar banner.