We’re thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Entertainment One (eOne) to bring you a new pre-apocalyptic international TV series called “5 Year,” which will follow people across the globe in the final five years before a deadly meteor is set to wipe out Earth. Each year will be represented in a season and follow unique characters across the globe along the same timeline.
The concept, which was conceived by Walking Dead Creator Robert Kirkman, was teased a few years ago. Now, we’re happy to announce it’s officially happening. Read the official press release below and make sure to keep it here at Skybound more “5 Year” news!
ROBERT KIRKMAN’S SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT ONE ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP ON INTERNATIONAL TV SERIES
5 YEAR
Entertainment One will Finance and Distribute the Series Across Various Markets
November 27, 2018 (LOS ANGELES, CA) – Skybound Entertainment and Entertainment One (eOne) today announced a new partnership to finance, produce and distribute 5 Year, a pre-apocalyptic concept from Robert Kirkman. eOne and Skybound will co-produce the series’ while eOne will serve as financier and distributor.
From an original idea from Robert Kirkman, 5 Year’s different series will focus on how people across the globe choose to live after learning the world will end in the next five years, as a meteor rushes towards Earth. Each year will play out as a season, and while each version will have its own unique characters and stories, they will all follow the same timeline. Each version of 5 Year will be a localized story set in the markets’ actual location and produced in local languages.
The Skybound and eOne partnership includes previously announced 5 Year series’ set in Latin America with producers Mixer and 360 Powwow, and in Korea with streaming service Viki. The deal also covers 5 Year series currently in the works in Italy, Germany, Russia, China, UK and more.
“This is one of the most ambitious projects we’ve worked on, and also one of the most rewarding. Our work with all our partners around the globe continues to inspire our vision for this series and our commitment and passion for global storytelling. 5 Year is a fundamentally human story, meant to explore humanity’s capacity for good and evil in the face of the ultimate threat. eOne is a world class producer and distributor of television and they share our vision and ambition for this huge undertaking. We are very happy to have them as our partner,” said Bryan and Sean Furst in a joint statement.
“We couldn’t possibly pass up the opportunity to work on a truly innovative project that blends multiple, local productions seamlessly into a story as it happens globally. Robert’s talent for creating content universes and connecting with audiences through bold storytelling makes this partnership most exciting for us and we are thrilled to join forces with him and the Skybound team to bring a multi-level story like the 5 Year universe to audiences around the world. In Skybound, we have found a partner that shares our drive to create future-facing content with worldwide appeal that challenges conventions and spark imaginations,” said Peter Micelli, eOne’s Chief Strategy Officer, Film & Television.
From Skybound, Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst, and Sean Furst will serve as Executive Producers for all 5 Year series.
Through their relationship with AMC Networks, eOne handled international distribution on Kirkman’s series The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. The deal between Skybound and eOne was put together by CAA.
About Skybound Entertainment:
Founded in 2010, Skybound Entertainment is a multiplatform entertainment company managed by partners Robert Kirkman, David Alpert and Jon Goldman. Skybound houses projects ranging from television, film, emerging platforms, comics, interactive gaming, live events, and more. The company holds a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios where adaptations of Invincible, Transhuman, and East of West are currently in development. The company is also responsible for television hits including The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Outcast, and Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics. In 2016, the company expanded to Vancouver with the opening of their Skybound North office, working to expand Skybound’s footprint into the animation and children’s space with top Canadian talent. In 2018, Skybound opened GammaRay, a video-content brand focused on pop culture, and expanded Skybound Games into a venture focused on publishing independently developed games.
On the film side, Skybound has a first-look deal with Universal. Robert Kirkman’s second-longest running comic series Invincible will be developed for film at Universal and as an animated series for Amazon. The interactive gaming slate includes partnerships with Starbreeze, Skydance, Scopely, and more. Skybound is currently publishing comic book titles The Walking Dead, Oblivion Song, Die!Die!Die!, Outcast, Redneck, Gasolina, Crude, and more.
About Entertainment One:
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a global independent studio that specialises in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. The Company’s diversified expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales; family programming, merchandising and licensing; digital content; and live entertainment. Through its global reach and expansive scale, powered by deep local market knowledge, the Company delivers the best content to the world.
Entertainment One’s robust network includes international feature film distribution company Sierra/Affinity; Amblin Partners with DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, and Reliance Entertainment; Makeready with Brad Weston; unscripted television production companies Whizz Kid Entertainment and Renegade 83; live entertainment leaders Round Room Entertainment; world-class music labels Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang; and award-winning emerging content and technologystudio Secret Location.
