Tom McCarthy Moves Overall Deal to Fox 21 TV Studios

Writer, director and producer Tom McCarthy—whose credits include Spotlight, Up and 13 Reasons Why—has signed an overall deal with Fox 21 Television Studios to create, develop, direct and produce series.

The deal brings McCarthy’s production company, Slow Pony, into the Fox 21 Television Studios fold, along with his head of development and production, Melissa Wells. She has been with McCarthy since Slow Pony’s inception, two years ago.

McCarthy co-wrote and directed 2016 Best Picture Winner Spotlight and recently wrapped production on Stillwater, starring Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin. He wrote the animated feature Up as well as the pilot of Showtime’s Roger Ailes miniseries The Loudest Voice and executive produced and directed select episodes of the critically acclaimed Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. Next up from McCarthy, Timmy Failure will be released on Disney+ in 2020.  

Fox 21 Television Studios President Bert Salke commented: “We have been huge fans of Tom’s work for years, from his brilliant Spotlight to Up to 13 Reasons Why and most recently The Loudest Voice. As we look to be in business with creators at the absolute top of their games, of course his name came up again and again as someone everyone at Fox 21 was dying to work with. He’s a spectacularly talented filmmaker and writer and we can’t wait to get started.”

McCarthy commented: “I’m truly excited to be setting up shop at Fox 21, and I’m especially thankful to Bert for bringing me into the fold. Creatively, I think we are all looking for like-minded partners who are proven in their ability to execute at a high level, and I feel like that’s exactly what I’ve found with Bert and his talented team at Fox 21. I talked to Peter Rice about working together after making my first film, The Station Agent, and I’m thrilled it’s finally happening. I’ve had a great experience making films with Disney, and it’s an exciting time to parlay that into TV with Dana, Craig and the extended Disney Television Studios family.”

McCarthy had been tied up in an overall deal with Paramount Television previously, following their successful collaboration on 13 Reasons Why.