Common Signs Overall Deal With Lionsgate TV

8/24/2018 by Lesley Goldberg

Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP

Common poses for a portrait to promote the film, "The Tale", at the Music Lodge during the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 20, 2018 in Park City, Utah.

The Emmy winner will create and produce new projects for the company.

Common is increasing his focus on television. The Emmy-winning songwriter, actor and producer has inked an overall deal with Lionsgate Television. Under the pact, Common will create and develop new projects for the studio.

The deal expands Lionsgate's relationship with Common, who has starred in the film studio's John Wick and Now You See Me feature franchises. He currently co-stars and exec produces Showtime's The Chi.

"We’re thrilled to have the talented multihyphenate Common join our television team along with his longtime manager and producing partner Derek Dudley, president of production Shelby Stone and creative executive Melisa Resch,” said Lionsgate executive vp and head of worldwide scripted TV Chris Selak. “Common’s expertise from working across all different artistic platforms offers a rich and exciting creative vision to our group. We look forward to the bold, premium content Freedom Road Productions will bring to our deep and diverse television slate.”

Common, who earned an Emmy for his music in Ava DuVernay's Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning documentary 13th, next has features Smallfoot (with Warner Bros.), The Hate U Give (Fox) and Hunter Killer, which hails from Lionsgate's indie label Summit Entertainment.

“I’m proud to expand my relationship with the innovative content creator Lionsgate,” said Common. “The studio offers a collaborative, creative freedom that is unique in the entertainment industry, which makes them a perfect partner for Freedom Road Productions. I’m looking forward to teaming up with Kevin [Beggs, Lionsgate TV Group chairman], Chris and the Lionsgate collective on exciting and fresh television programming.”

Common's TV credits include a co-starring role on AMC's Hell on Wheels, and he joins a Lionsgate roster that also includes Dear White People's Justin Simien and Yvette Bowser, Kim and Eric Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men), Courtney Kemp (Power) and Jenny Bicks (Sex and the City), among others. Common is repped by UTA, Dudley and attorney David Fox.

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.