EXCLUSIVE: EverWonder Studio, the company behind Netflix’s Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, is getting into the overall deal business.
EverWonder, which is backed by Jeff Zucker’s RedBird IMI-backed, has struck production deals with Zeberiah Newman and Vanessa Golembewski.
Newman directed the Jamie Lee Curtis-documentary Stop The Insanity: Finding Susan Powter and Hulu’s Unleashing Hope with Rosie O’Donnell and Living Proof with Sheryl Lee Ralph. Prior to these moves, he was a producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Golembewski was an executive producer of Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, which debuted at number one on Netflix’s English-language TV charts with 14.2M views in its first week. She is also an executive producer of Peacock’s forthcoming three-part docuseries Clap If You Care: The Wendy Williams Show.
EverWonder, which is also behind docs including Hanging By A Wire and Netflix’s Chris & Martina: The Final Set, said that Newman will direct and produce documentaries that “blend intimate human stories with sharp social commentary”, while Golembewski will direct and produce a “variety of unscripted projects” that mix “pop culture and character-driven storytelling”.
The pair will work with EverWonder’s EVP, Unscripted Jon Adler and SVP, Unscripted Amanda Spain.
“Zeb has the ability to tell powerful stories that find humanity and deeper meaning in their subjects and have intimate emotional impact, and we are excited to partner with him to develop exciting new non-fiction projects that resonate with audiences and spark meaningful cultural conversation,” said Adler. “Vanessa successfully created an impressive slate of premium, pop-culture and character focused narratives that live at the heart of the cultural zeitgeist and we are thrilled to be able to tap into that expertise to develop new unscripted stories for years to come.”
“I’ve always been drawn to stories that live in the complicated space between who people are and who the world thinks they are. I’m thrilled to partner with EverWonder to build a slate that takes big swings, follows that curiosity, and tells stories people can’t stop talking about,” added Newman.
“Pop culture is at the heart of EverWonder’s premium storytelling, and I’m excited for the opportunity to work closely with their visionary team to create new projects that push the envelope and bring audiences closer to the people and stories shaping culture,” said Golembewski.
Newman is represented by Kroos Entertainment Group.