Gina Jones enters a crime-family romance in JuVee and Universal drama Pawn
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Viola Davis and Julius Tennon's JuVee Productions has signed a first-look deal with Universal Global Television (UGT), under which the company will develop projects for the studio across all platforms. The arrangement marks a new chapter for JuVee, which has previously held television deals at eOne, Amazon and ABC Signature, and reflects a continued push by both parties to bring bold, character-driven stories to the screen.
The first project under the deal is the romantic drama "Pawn", based on an original short story by Kennedy Ryan, with Chantelle M. Wells ("Daredevil: Born Again", "Yellowjackets") attached to write. The series follows Gina Jones, who agrees to become a "pawn" for the St. Louis crime family the Rossis in exchange for money to fund her grandmother's medical care, only to develop an undeniable attraction to Drayden, heir to the rival North family and her new boss. Davis, Tennon, JuVee TV head Andrew Wang, Wells and Ryan all executive produce; JuVee's past credits include the films "The Woman King" and "G20" and the TV series "The First Lady".
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Universal Global Television and JuVee Productions, the company run by actor Viola Davis and her husband Julius Tennon, have agreed a "first-look" deal, meaning JuVee will develop new shows for Universal to consider making. JuVee has had similar arrangements with other studios before, including eOne, Amazon and ABC Signature, and is known for projects such as the film "The Woman King" and the series "The First Lady".
The first show to come out of this new partnership is "Pawn", a drama based on a short story by author Kennedy Ryan. It centres on Gina Jones, a woman who agrees to work for a crime family in St Louis to pay for her grandmother's medical treatment, then finds herself drawn to the son of a rival crime family who becomes her boss.
The project matters because it signals a new phase for Davis and Tennon's production company after previous studio partnerships, and because it brings together several people with notable television credentials, including writer Chantelle M. Wells, whose past work includes "Daredevil: Born Again" and "Yellowjackets".
More coverage
- The Hollywood Reporter — Viola Davis and Julius Tennonu2019s JuVee Productions Inks First-Look Deal With Universal Global TV
- Deadline — Viola Davis & Julius Tennonu2019s Juvee Productions Inks First-Look Deal With Universal Global Television; u2018Pawnu2019 Series Adaptation Set As First Project
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Originally published by Variety as “Viola Davis, Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions Set First-Look Deal at Universal Global Television, to Develop Drama ‘Pawn’”.