2 months ago
EXCLUSIVE: Universal Television has optioned Lights Out, nan bestselling sports thriller by erstwhile nationalist TV reporter-turned-author Elise Hart Kipness, for improvement arsenic a series.
Executive producers connected nan task see Mary J. Blige, Bruce Miller and Milana Edwards-Brooks of Blue Butterfly Productions, arsenic good arsenic Debra Martin Chase of Martin Chase Productions, and Liz Friedlander, who will besides direct. Kipness, Liza Fleissig and Ginger Harris-Dontzin will service arsenic consulting producers.
The first book successful Kipness’ Kate Green series, Lights Out follows a erstwhile Olympic jock and sports newsman who isn’t judge really overmuch much tumultuous her life tin get. She’s been put connected impermanent time off from her job, past NBA superstar Kurt Robbins is killed, and nan premier fishy successful his execution is nary different than his wife…and Kate’s champion friend. Kate knows that Yvette’s matrimony wasn’t precisely stable, but her friend is nary murderer, and Kate is wished to beryllium it pinch her ain investigation. While she tries to salvage Yvette’s life, Kate’s ain continues to unravel. Her profession is successful limbo. Gossip columns estimate astir her future. Her children are battling their ain demons. And her estranged begetter abruptly reenters her life arsenic a detective assigned to Kurt’s homicide case.
Lights Out became an instant Amazon bestseller erstwhile it was released by Thomas & Mercer successful 2023. The 3rd installment successful nan series, Close Call, released past period and has spent 4 weeks connected nan USA Today Bestseller List, peaking astatine #18.
A Grammy and Emmy-winner and Academy Award nominee, Blige launched Blue Butterfly Productions backmost successful 2019 amid an description from euphony into movie and television. Since its launch, nan institution has signed a six-picture woody pinch Lifetime, creating deed films based connected Blige’s opus catalogue. Other credits see Blige’s talk show connected BET+, a documentary focused connected Blige’s medium My Life for Amazon, and exec producing Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Rob Peace, successful which Blige and Ejiofor starred. Blige is repped by IAG and LaPolt Law.
A four-time Tony-winner and three-time Emmy nominee, Chase was nan first Black female shaper to person a woody astatine immoderate awesome workplace and to nutrient a movie that grossed complete $100 million. Her movies person grossed complete a half cardinal dollars astatine nan container office. Under an wide woody at Universal Television, her accumulation banner’s caller credits see CBS’s The Equalizer, docu Being Mary Tyler Moore, and nan Academy Award-nominated Harriet, to sanction conscionable a few. She is repped by CAA and Nina Shaw of Del, Shaw, Moonves.
Liz Friedlander has directed and executive produced aggregate tv pilots including The Equalizer, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Rookie, Conviction, and Tell Me a Story. She’s besides directed aggregate episodes of Amazon’s Fallout and The Boys, Apple TV’s Bad Monkey, and more, and is presently directing a artifact of Foundation for Apple TV. She is repped by CAA and Howard Abramson of Behr Abramson Levy Johnson.
Kipness is represented by IAG and Liza Royce Associates. Fleissig and Harris-Dontzin are besides repped by IAG.
