Peacock Sets Upcoming Slate & Reveals New Deals

At its NewFront presentation, Peacock unveiled its upcoming slate, including the first three original films produced by Universal Pictures exclusively for the platform, and new deals it has scored with Lionsgate and Bravo.

The new Universal Pictures films are Shooting Stars, the first film from NBCUniversal’s production deal with LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company; Praise This, from producer Will Packer (Girls Trip); and The Killer, reimagined by John Woo. The three films are set to debut in 2023.

Shooting Stars follows LeBron’s origin story as a high school basketball player. Academy Award-nominees Rachel Winter and Terence Winter are producing alongside SpringHill Company. Praise This, meanwhile, stars Chloe Bailey as the newest member of a community church choir who pushes the other members in a different musical direction.

“We know people join Peacock to watch movies, so we are constantly adding more to serve fans,” said Kelly Campbell, president of Peacock and direct-to-consumer and international at NBCUniversal. “Together with the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, we are excited to deliver fresh, exclusive original films next year to our customers in addition to the legendary Universal Pictures blockbuster films and beloved franchises streaming now.”

The announcement of these new titles comes after Peacock’s original series Bel-Air shattered the platform’s records. It became the most-streamed original series on the streamer and received an unprecedented upfront two-season order. The series originally premiered on February 13 and has since reached 8 million accounts. It will return in 2023.

“We’re elated at the positive response to Bel-Air and that this passionate audience quickly solidified the series into the cultural zeitgeist,” said Susan Rovner, chairman of entertainment content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “Week after week, Bel-Air captivated audiences with buzzy cliffhangers and stunning ensemble performances, led by the unmatched Jabari Banks. We can’t wait for what’s in store for season two.”

Campbell added, “The incredible performance of Bel-Air really demonstrates the power of culture-defining content. Bel-Air is our most-streamed Peacock original series and the third biggest title on the platform, breaking records for customer acquisition, viewership and upgrades. We strategically launched the series in February amid two of the biggest sporting events—the Olympics and Super Bowl—making Bel-Air a cornerstone of our most-streamed month in Peacock history. We couldn’t be more excited to dive deeper into this story next season.”

“We see a lot of reboots in today’s television landscape, and yet there’s something undeniably singular, relevant and contemporary about this take on a beloved fan-favorite,” said Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studio Group. “We knew Bel-Air would push the boundaries of possibility for IP adaptation, and we’re thrilled to celebrate its success with Peacock.”

A slew of Lionsgate films will bow on the streamer, as Peacock and Lionsgate closed a multiyear theatrical output deal beginning with the studio’s 2022 slate. The agreement will see blockbuster movies debut exclusively on Peacock and NBCUniversal networks for their Pay 2 window starting in 2024. The first Lionsgate film to bow on the platform will be The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent starring Nicolas Cage. Other films that will make their way to the streamer are John Wick: Chapter 4; the Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes; Expendables 4; Borderlands; Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; and White Bird: A Wonder Story.

“These agreements affirm the great demand for first-run studio movies across every kind of platform—AVOD, SVOD, basic cable and FAST,” said Jim Packer, president of worldwide television distribution at Lionsgate. “This partnership with Peacock shows our ability to capitalize on opportunities in today’s complex media landscape with a multifaceted, layered approach that meets everyone’s needs.”

Val Boreland, executive VP of content acquisition at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, added, “Movies are among the most-streamed titles on Peacock, and we continue to expand our premium film offering from top studios, like Lionsgate, to ensure customers enjoy a steady stream of the biggest and best films to enjoy throughout the year. Lionsgate is home to blockbuster franchises from John Wick to the newly announced Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songsbirds and Snakes, and we’re excited to provide viewers an exclusive window to enjoy the Lionsgate slate of feature films across NBCUniversal platforms.”

Another new deal sees Peacock become the streaming home of Bravo. Beginning in September, new episodes of Bravo shows will become available to stream the day after airing, and subscribers of Peacock’s premium tier will have complete access to past seasons of hits such as The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Top Chef and Below Deck. Recently completed seasons will be added to the Peacock library, so viewers can catch up on The Real Housewives of Orange County, Million Dollar Listing New York and Vanderpump Rules, among others.

“Next-day availability on Peacock expands Bravo’s reach to a whole new audience who otherwise may not have access to the network, while also giving our ‘Bravoholics’ an easy way to catch up or dig deep on past seasons of their favorite shows,” said Frances Berwick, chairman of entertainment networks at NBCUniversal. “Bravo viewers are some of the most loyal fans across television, and by making our shows accesisible to this new demographic, we’re growing that highly engaged audience which ultimately brings more value to the Bravo brand across all our platforms.”

Campbell added, “We are thrilled Peacock is becoming the streaming home of Bravo, which is such a beloved brand. Full fan experiences like this are part of the extraordinary value we offer Peacock customers.”