Peacock Is Expanding With Exclusive Originals, Lionsgate Theatricals and Content From Bravo
Peacock has been one busy bird.
The streamer made several content announcements Monday, focusing on original movies as well as deals with Lionsgate Studios and the Bravo television network.
Auteur John Woo will remake his quintessential 1989 action picture The Killer for the streamer. The original starred Chow Yun-fat as an assassin who accidentally blinds a nightclub singer (Sally Yeh) during a job, and agrees to kill a triad boss to pay for the operation. Peacock says that Woo will “reimagine and direct his own classic.”
Remakes of the classic actioner have been in the works since 1992, including an American version and a gender-swapped take on the tale, with Lupita Nyong’o in talks to play the assassin role. Currently, there is no casting news for this most recent project.
Peacock will also be the premiere destination for two other original Universal films coming to the streamer next year, including Shooting Stars from LeBron James and Praise This from Will Packer.
Shooting Stars comes from LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company. The film follows LeBron’s origin from his time as a high-school basketball player and is currently being filmed in his hometown of Akron. Academy Award-nominees Rachel Winter and Terence Winter are producing.
Girls Trip producer Packer is behind Praise This, starring Chloe Bailey as the newest member of a community’s church choir who pushes her members in a hipper musical direction and whose involvement with an irreverent hip-hop star may kick off—or jeopardize—her own musical career.
Peacock also struck a multiyear movie output deal with Lionsgate for all theatrically released Lionsgate films, starting with the studio’s 2022 slate, bringing movies exclusively to Peacock and NBCUniversal networks for their Pay 2 window, starting in 2024.
The first Lionsgate film to hit Peacock will be The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, starring Nicolas Cage. Other titles in the agreement include John Wick: Chapter 4, the Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Expendables 4, Borderlands and Kelly Fremon Craig’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, produced by Oscar winner James L. Brooks and adapted from the classic Judy Blume novel.
“Movies are among the most-streamed titles on Peacock, and we continue to expand our premium film offering from top studios, like Lionsgate, to ensure customers enjoy a steady stream of the biggest and best films to enjoy throughout the year,” said Val Boreland, executive vp content acquisition at NBCUniversal television and streaming, in a statement.
And finally, New episodes of all Bravo programs will be available day-after- air for the first time on any streaming-only platform, but only to Peacock’s premium subscribers. This includes shows like Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen; Summer House; Below Deck Sailing Yacht; Top Chef; and The Real Housewives of New Jersey and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Recently completed seasons of favorites like Vanderpump Rules will also be available to binge.
“We are thrilled Peacock is becoming the streaming home of Bravo, which is such a beloved brand,” said Kelly Campbell, president of Peacock and Direct-to-Consumer at NBCUniversal. “Full fan experiences like this are part of the extraordinary value we offer Peacock customers.”