Stan seals new Sony Pictures Television deal

Stan has entered a major new multi-year strategic content partnership with Sony Pictures Television, for exclusive and premium scripted drama.

Adding to existing deals with Lionsgate, MGM, NBCU and Paramount, the partnership builds on current deals for Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, both extended under the new agreement.

Amongst new titles are Twisted Metal, a half-hour action-comedy series about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Based on the PlayStation video game franchise and written by Michael Jonathan Smith (Cobra Kai), Twisted Metal stars Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Thomas Haden Church (Spider- Man: No Way Home) and Neve Campbell (The Lincoln Lawyer).

Other premium dramas coming soon include Straight Man, a mid-life crisis tale starring Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) as William Henry Devereaux Jr, the unlikely chairman of a Pennsylvania college English department; Panhandle, starring Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Tiana Okoye (The Good Place) and set in the Florida panhandle, with the series following arm-chair detective Bell Prescott (Kirby) and reluctant traffic cop Cammie Lorde (Okoye) as they wrestle with personal demons, shocking twists, and a few Florida gators on their journey to heal themselves and their town; and Passport to Freedom, which tells the story of Aracy de Carvalho (Sophie Charlotte), an employee in the Brazilian consulate in Hamburg, Germany in the lead up to World War II, who managed to save many Jews by issuing passports to allow them to travel to Brazil.

Rights also include The Nanny, Dawson’s Creek, For Life and more, plus film franchises, including Spider-Man, Jumanji, Men in Black and many more.

Stan Chief Executive Officer Martin Kugeler said: “Stan’s major new strategic content agreement with Sony Pictures Television will bring a large suite of world-class, premium drama to our subscribers exclusively. This deal is the latest addition to our existing partnerships with major Hollywood studios and will give Stan an even stronger long-term lineup of exclusive first run premium content.

“From Better Call Saul to Spider-Man, Sony Pictures has created some of the most iconic characters and best loved franchises for our screens. Since bringing us Better Call Saul, Sony Pictures has long been an important partner of Stan. We look forward to building onour well-established relationship as we enter this new strategic partnership.”

Mike Wald, Sony Pictures’ EVP for International Distribution & Networks, said: “With their wide array of premium international and local content, Stan has been a great partner forus to reach Australian audiences. We are thrilled to extend our strong relationship with them and to have Stan as the future home for so many of our most exciting TV series and global franchises.”