EXCLUSIVE: Music label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) has launched TDE Films with the new division behind the urban action horror movie The Zone.
Dallas Jackson is directing off a script by David Hayter of the 20th Century Fox X-Men franchise and Jackson. TDE Films is producing alongside former Lionsgate boss Rob Friedman. 20th Century Studios acquired the project. Plot details are being kept quiet other than it has a high concept sci-fi twist.
Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith founder of TDE said, “This partnership with 20th Century Fox aligns strongly with our mission at Top Dawg Entertainment—to innovate, elevate, and expand the cultural conversation. Together, we’re building a bridge between music and film that will leave a lasting impact on audiences around the world.”
Scott Aversano and Rashonda Joplin are overseeing the project at 20th.
Jackson was the writer/director of Thriller for Blumhouse/Netflix, writer/director of Welcome to Sudeen Death on Netflix, writer/director on The System starring Tyrese Gibson, Terrence Howard which is now running on Hulu and was #1 on the streamer last year. Jackson also was the EP of Rebel on BET. He also sold a series to Paramount+ with Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson’s G-Unit Film and Television.
Hayter’s writing credits have grossed north of $1 billion at the global box office and include X-Men, X-Men: United, The Scorpion King and Zack Snyder’s Watchmen. He also worked on Marvel’s Black Widow, Iron Man, The Hulk, and was an EP on the Netflix show, Warrior Nun. Recent writing credits include Big Man Plans starring Peter Dinklage for Amazon, Voltron for DreamWorks Animation and Midnight Ride for Disney and Johnny Depp. In TV, Hayter is developing Operation: Tropical Storm, chronicling the rise of the Yakuza in Hawaii. Hayter has sold shows to CBS, ABC, FOX, Showtime, Universal International, Crunchyroll and WBTV. He made his directorial debut with the indie horror film Wolves starring Jason Momoa.
Founded in 2004 by Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) is a Hip-Hop and R&B record label that has launched and nurtured the careers of Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, SZA, Isaiah Rashad, SiR, Doechii, Ray Vaughn, and more. The label counts 24 Grammy Awards, a historic Pulitzer Prize for Kendrick Lamar’s Damn, and over 2 million tickets sold worldwide from sold-out tours and festival performances.
Friedman is the CEO of Ascendant Entertainment, which focuses on elevated commercial content with broad appeal. He launched the company after serving as Co-Chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group from 2012-2017. He came there following the studio’s acquisition of Summit Entertainment, a company he founded, headed as Co-Chairman and CEO, and built into a leading motion picture production and distribution company. During his tenure, Lionsgate became the first studio outside the traditional majors to generate over $1 billion at the U.S. box office, a feat it repeated two years in a row. Lionsgate also notably received the highest number of Academy Award nominations in his final year of leadership at the studio — 26 in total — with six wins for La La Land and two for Hacksaw Ridge.
Prior to Summit Entertainment, Friedman spent 27 years at Warner Bros, holding roles including President of Worldwide Advertising and Publicity. He moved to Paramount Pictures as Vice Chairman and COO of the Paramount Motion Picture Group in 1997. There, he oversaw seven divisions and created Paramount’s specialty film division, Paramount Classics.
Jackson is represented by IAG, Industry Entertainment, Darren Trattner at Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.
Hayter is represented by IAG, Fourth Wall, and attorney David Feldman.
Ascendant is represented by Andrew Kramer of Wilkie, Farr, & Gallagher.
TDE is represented by Josh Binder of Rothenberg Mohr & Binder.
