Paramount Digital Enters First-Look Deal with Ben Stiller’s Red Hour

LOS ANGELES: Paramount Digital Entertainment has secured an exclusive first-look deal with Red Hour Digital, a new subsidiary of Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films, that covers the development of original digital properties to be launched through a variety of formats.

The two-year deal covers the creation of live-action and animated webisodes and social media games, among other types of formats, for both digital and mobile platforms. The first projects include an animated digital extension for Zoolander, along with an accompanying social media game. Red Hour is also developing Billy Glimmer: Entertainer of the Century, an online original comedy about Billy Glimmer (Stiller), who is a singing impressionist-comedian in Las Vegas.

Mike Rosenstein has been promoted to director of digital content and will oversee the Paramount Digital relationship with Red Hour.

"It’s an incredible opportunity for Paramount Digital Entertainment to be working with such a talented and successful creative team," said Tom Lesinski, the president of Paramount Digital Entertainment. "With Ben Stiller at the helm, Red Hour is a proven draw for audiences on any platform. Ben is digitally savvy with several successful online projects and a fan base of millions of followers."

Added Stiller, "I believe the internet is a magical gateway to make all our dreams come true. Red Hour is also developing a new flying jet pack and a teleportation system to travel through time. But for now, we are concentrating on making funny videos to watch while people are pretending to work."