Universal Pictures has announced it has entered into a four-year first-look production agreement with The SpringHill Company, the global consumer and entertainment brand built by NBA superstar LeBron James and co-founder Maverick Carter.
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“LeBron, Maverick and the team at SpringHill are content creators with a purpose, and we’re excited to partner with filmmakers who challenge us to tell stories that move culture forward,” Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, said in a statement. “SpringHill’s projects are compelling, entertaining, inspiring and aim to start important conversations, which we need now more than ever. We’re already partnering with LeBron and Maverick on some exciting projects in active development, with more to come, and we look forward to leveraging our resources across the NBCU portfolio to amplify those titles and bring important voices like SpringHill to a global audience.”
Universal has been collaborating with James, SpringHill CEO Maverick Carter and The SpringHill Company team, which includes Jamal Henderson, Chief Content Officer, and Spencer Beighley, Head of Film, for several years already and have multiple projects in various stages of development, beginning with Untitled LeBron James Project, which is based on the book Shooting Stars by James and Buzz Bissinger and other events in James’ life.
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The film adaptation of Shooting Stars, which The SpringHill Company is producing with Terence and Rachel Winter, will be directed by Chris Robinson (ATL) and was written by Frank E. Flowers (Metro Manila) with current revisions by Tony Rettenmaier & Juel Taylor. Taylor is an alumnus of the Universal Writers Program that identifies up-and-coming and experienced screenwriters with unique points of view that build upon the Studio’s commitment to telling stories and creating films that reflect the vast diversity of its audiences. Additional SpringHill projects include New Kid, based on the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal by Jerry Craft, and the newly announced Catch the Wave, based on an original pitch by Ali Kinney.
“The SpringHill Company’s purpose is to empower greatness in every individual,” Carter said in a statement. “With Universal, we’re aligned in making sure socially conscious and purposeful elements are felt in all of our stories, whether it’s a drama, comedy, family or even a horror film. In the same spirit, this partnership allows us to empower creators to tell the stories important to them and culture on the studio projects in the film space. Universal has been an incredibly collaborative thought partner from vision to execution and it’s clear they value championing and telling diverse stories. We’re proud to be partnering with a studio that makes telling diverse stories a mandate and not an option.”
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The SpringHill Company is a global consumer and entertainment brand created to empower greatness in every individual. The SpringHill Company unites three companies built by James and Carter: UNINTERRUPTED, the athlete empowerment media and consumer product company, SpringHill Entertainment, the premium scripted and unscripted film and television production company and The Robot Company, the brand and culture consultancy. With a dynamic and diverse team committed to creating the most culturally inspired brands, entertainment and products, The SpringHill Company is built to be the defining brand for a new generation.
The SpringHill Company and its mission to empower is building strong cultural IP with a number of important projects, products and partners. Original content properties including The Shop: Uninterrupted, Kneading Dough and More Than An Athlete are impacting culture and inspiring important conversations. SpringHill also has continued momentum in the premium content space with projects like breakout broadcast special Graduate Together, Space Jam: A New Legacy, NBC’s primetime game show The Wall, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker for Netflix, the powerful docuseries I Promise, and a host of critically-acclaimed titles. Across all categories, The SpringHill Company is creating compelling content and connecting brands, creators and consumers to culture and entertainment.
