Lionsgate & Evolution Strike TV Development Pact

SANTA MONICA: Building on an existing partnership in the Charlie Sheen comedy Anger Management, Lionsgate and Evolution Entertainment have signed a first-look deal to develop and produce TV programming.

The agreement marks the launch of Evolution’s new TV division, which will be overseen by Rachel Israel in the senior VP role. As Charlie Sheen’s longtime manager, Evolution is the producer of Two and a Half Men and Anger Management. Co-founder Mark Burg serves as an executive producer on both shows.

“We have enjoyed an extraordinary collaboration with Evolution on Anger Management so expanding the scope of our relationship with Mark, Mike and their team made perfect sense,” said Kevin Beggs, the president of Lionsgate Television Group. “They embody the kind of creative spirit and entrepreneurial acumen that define and drive the Lionsgate brand and we look forward to developing many more projects together.”

“Our partnership with Lionsgate on Anger Management has proven to be everything we hoped for,” added Evolution Entertainment principal Mark Burg and president Michael Menchel, “and this new agreement is an exciting next step as we look to broaden our reach in television for both our clients and the larger community.”