Levy Moves to 20th Television
Shawn Levy and his company 21 Laps Entertainment have signed a multi-year overall deal with 20th Television, a unit of Disney Television Studios. Under the agreement, Levy will develop and produce series across Disney Entertainment's portfolio of platforms and brands. The move follows the conclusion of Stranger Things, whose creators and executive producers, the Duffer Brothers, and Levy, a director and executive producer on the show, are both setting up new arrangements elsewhere. The Duffer Brothers recently secured a large film and television overall deal at Paramount.[S1]
In recent months, 20th Television has drawn prominent talent away from competing studios. The studio signed overall deals with Quinta Brunson of Abbott Elementary, previously at Warner Bros. TV, and with Sue Naegle, an executive producer of The Five Star Weekend, who had been at Universal. Levy is the latest addition to that list.[S1]
A Longstanding Disney Relationship
Levy's ties to Disney extend across two decades and multiple divisions. Early in his career he directed the Disney Channel series The Famous Jett Jackson, and he later produced Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day for Walt Disney Pictures. On the feature side, he directed and co-wrote Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine, is directing Lucasfilm's Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling, and is re-teaming with Gosling on Marvel Studios' Ghost Rider. He also directed 20th Century Studios' Free Guy and the Night at the Museum franchise and Cheaper by the Dozen.[S1]
Dana Walden, Disney's President and Chief Creative Officer, described Levy as a storyteller with a rare ability to blend broad entertainment with deeply human material, noting his two-decade history with the company and his ease across genres and franchises. She said Disney was eager to build the next chapter with him. Levy said he began his career directing and producing television episodes for Disney Channel before moving into film, and that he has long felt a kinship with the company's approach to storytelling. He cited his past work with Walden when both were at Fox and praised Debra OConnell, saying Disney Television has an exciting period ahead and that the place feels like home.[S1]
Netflix Farewell and Stranger Things Future
Levy also paid tribute to Netflix's leadership after more than ten years with the streamer. He said he would always treasure the run 21 Laps had there and expressed deep gratitude to Ted, Bela, Jinny and the many Netflix executives the company worked with over the years. He added that he looks forward to continuing collaboration on the Stranger Things universe from the Duffer Brothers. The animated series Stranger Things: Tales From '85 has just returned for a second season, and at least one other offshoot series is awaiting a green light at Netflix.[S1]
