MRC TELEVISION AND CIVIC CENTER MEDIA SIGN FIRST LOOK DEAL WITH NICHOLAS HOULT AND HIS NEWLY FORMED DEAD DUCK FILMS

Whitaker Lader Named As Company Head and Development Slate Includes “Wildfire Johnny”

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - March 31, 2021 – Nicholas Hoult has signed a first look television deal with MRC Television and Civic Center Media via his newly formed production company, Dead Duck Films. Hoult has named film and television producer Whitaker Lader, coming off an overall producing deal at Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment, to lead the company.

The first project in development under the banner’s deal with the leading independent studio is “Wildfire Johnny.” The half-hour series, based on a short story by the same name from author Kevin Wilson’s Baby, You’re Gonna Be Mine: Stories, chronicles the story of a young man who discovers a discarded straight razor with a note promising whoever “possesses this blade will gain access to its particular magic.” Hoult will star executive produce with Gianna Sobol writing and executive producing. Lader will also serve as executive producer.

“Nicholas is an immensely talented artist, and we feel very privileged to have the continued opportunity to tell great stories like ‘Wildfire Johnny’ with him and Whitaker as they establish their new production company and call MRC Television home,” said MRC Television President Elise Henderson.

Said Hoult: “I have always loved the creative process of filmmaking, from start to finish and feel so lucky to have learned from the amazingly talented people I have worked with over the years. I’m thrilled to be launching this company, and to be embarking on this journey alongside such brilliant partners.”

Hoult will next be seen starring in season two of Tony McNamara’s critically-acclaimed and Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominated comedy series, “The Great,” for which he will also serve as an Executive Producer. The Hulu series is produced by Civic Center Media in affiliation with MRC Television. Hoult himself received Golden Globe®, Screen Actors Guild® and Critics Choice® Award nominations for his portrayal of Peter in season one. Also upcoming, Hoult will star in Taylor Sheridan’s “Those Who Wish Me Dead,” alongside Angelina Jolie. Hoult’s feature and television credits include McNamara’s “The Favourite,” the “X-Men” franchise, “Warm Bodies,” “Skins” and “Mad Max: Fury Road,” among many others.

Prior to Imagine Entertainment, Lader served as head of production and development for Casey Affleck’s Sea Change Media. Her credits include: “Light of My Life,” written and directed by Affleck; “The World To Come,” starring Katherine Waterson, Vanessa Kirby and Affleck; and Jasmine McGlade’s “Fencer.”

About MRC Television
MRC Television is a leading independent studio, which sources, finances, develops, and produces shows in partnership with the industry’s foremost creative artists. To date, the studio’s series have been nominated for 94 Emmy® Awards and 18 Golden Globe® Awards. The current slate includes “Ozark,” from Chris Mundy and starring Jason Bateman, Laura Linney and Julia Garner, on Netflix; “The Great,” from Tony McNamara, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, on Hulu; “The Shrink Next Door,” starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd and from director Michael Showalter and writer Georgia Pritchett with Apple TV+; “The Terminal List,” for which Chris Pratt stars and executive produces alongside director Antoine Fuqua and writer David DiGilio, with Amazon Studios; “Shining Girls,” starring Elisabeth Moss and produced with Appian Way and Love & Squalor Pictures for Apple TV+; and the recently announced Rian Johnson series “Poker Face,” with T-Street and starring Natasha Lyonne for Peacock. MRC Television’s previous series include “House of Cards” and “Counterpart,” among others. For additional information, visit www.mrcentertainment.com.

About Civic Center Media
Civic Center Media (CCM) is an affiliation between United Talent Agency (UTA) and MRC Television to develop, produce and finance premium television series. The non-exclusive arrangement allows Civic Center Media to work with artists represented by all agencies and allows UTA and MRC to work with all studios and agencies, respectively. The collaboration has created a rich content slate with a variety of projects in development and current series which include “The Great,” from Academy Award nominee Tony McNamara and starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult; “The Terminal List” starring Chris Pratt for Amazon; and “The Shrink Next Door” starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd for Apple TV+.