George & Tammy limited series from Abe Sylvia to star Oscar(R) nominee Jessica Chastain
Based on Tammy Wynette and George Jones, series chronicling the country music legends rise to fame gets exclusive run on Spectrum followed by second window on ViacomCBS forthcoming streaming service and Paramount Network
Spectrum Originals and ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Studios to produce with 101 Studios, Mad Chance, Josh Brolin Productions and Freckle Films set to executive produce
Los Angeles, Calif. (Sept. 10, 2020) - Spectrum Originals and Paramount Network announced they will co-produce and air the limited series George & Tammy starring Golden Globe(R) Winner and Oscar(R) Nominee Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) as the first lady of country music, Tammy Wynette. The limited series chronicles the country music power couple, Wynette and George Jones, whose complicated relationship inspired some of the most iconic music of all time. After a nine-month exclusive run for Spectrum subscribers, George & Tammy will have a second window on ViacomCBS forthcoming streaming service and Paramount Network.
Abe Sylvia (Dead to Me) serves as creator and executive producer along with executive producers Andrew Lazar (American Sniper), Josh Brolin and Chastain. David Glasser, David Hutkin and Bob Yari are executive producers from 101 Studios (Yellowstone) along with writer and executive producer Bryan Goluboff. The series is based on the book, The Three of Us: Growing Up with Tammy and George, penned by the couple's daughter, Georgette Jones.
Remembered as the "First Lady of Country Music," Tammy Wynette's lyrics tackled real life issues including loneliness, divorce and heartbreak. Wynette's most successful song "Stand by Your Man" is one of the most iconic and best-selling country singles by a female artist. Wynette's 20 number one songs on the country charts cemented her place as one of the most influential women in music. Her tumultuous marriage to country superstar George Jones in 1969 gave life to iconic duets including, "We're Gonna Hold On," "Golden Ring" and "Near You."
"I first read Abe's feature script a few years ago and couldn't get it out of my head - the examination of human frailty and redemption was so unexpected, given the glitz and glamour of the subject matter," said Katherine Pope, head of Spectrum Originals. "We all thought we knew who Tammy Wynette was, but there is so much more to her that we never saw. Jessica brings her incredible depth of intelligence, empathy and strength to peel back all the layers of this country superstar. It's an honor to work with this dream team - all the producers and our partners at 101 Studios and Paramount Network - we can't wait to bring this incredible series to our viewers."
"I've been a massive fan of George & Tammy's iconic music since I was a kid, leading me to chase this incredible script by Abe for years," said Keith Cox, President of ViacomCBS's Entertainment & Youth Studios. "It's a dream come true to have Jessica at the forefront of the complex tale behind Tammy Wynette. We are thrilled to share this series about two legends with the world on ViacomCBS forthcoming streaming service and Paramount Network."
"We are thrilled to be able to bring this story to life," said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios. "This project has been a labor of love for everyone involved, especially Andrew (Lazar) and Jessica (Chastain). We first heard about it nearly seven years ago when it was pitched as a feature film. After Abe Sylvia's success in television with Nurse Jackie and Dead to Me, we thought George & Tammy could also be re-envisioned as a series. With Abe at the helm of the project, Andrew producing, and Jessica attached to star, we can finally bring George and Tammy's story to the screen."
"I am humbled to bring this incredible story to life with the breadth it deserves and that the Charter platforms allow," said Abe Sylvia. "Tammy Wynette is an American icon, and I can think of no one better to illuminate the woman behind the legend than Jessica Chastain. After having the honor of penning The Eyes of Tammy Faye for Freckle Films and Searchlight, I so look forward to another collaboration with her. This has indeed been a passion project for Andrew, Josh and me - and we are so grateful to our partners Katherine Pope, Keith Cox and David Glasser for tirelessly championing our labor of love."
ABOUT PARAMOUNT NETWORK
Paramount Network, part of the ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Brands, is a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of storytelling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today's brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal. A subsidiary of ViacomCBS, Paramount Network has a global reach of 234 million households across 117 countries. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Paramount Network's press site at paramountnetwork.com/press and follow us on Twitter at @ParamountNetPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
ABOUT SPECTRUM ORIGINALS
Spectrum Originals is a premier destination for premium original series available exclusively to Spectrum video subscribers On Demand and ad-free. This free service launched in Spring of 2019 with season one of "L.A.'s Finest" and is currently airing season two of the hit series starring Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba. Additionally, on the platform is popular limited series "Mad About You," "Manhunt: Deadly Games" and "Paradise Lost." An initiative of Charter Communications, Spectrum Originals is the latest expansion of Charter's market-leading video offerings, which include regional sports networks and its award-winning Spectrum News services. More information on Spectrum Originals can be found at http://press.spectrumoriginals.com/
ABOUT CHARTER
Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 30 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet(R), TV, Mobile and Voice.
For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business(R) delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach(R) delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.
ABOUT 101 STUDIOS
101 Studios is a global entertainment company dedicated to the acquisition, financing, development, production and distribution of high-caliber, creator-driven storytelling. The studio empowers content creators through first-class collaboration and innovation. On the film side, past releases include Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's The Current War: Director's Cut, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon as well as the Sundance Audience award winner Burden featuring Forest Whitaker and Garrett Hedlund. Upcoming releases include The War with Grandpa, starring Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman and Christopher Walken as well as the French sensation La Belle Epoque. On the television side, 101 produces Taylor Sheridan's cable's biggest show for Paramount Network Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner as well as Sheridan's upcoming series Mayor of Kingstown. Additionally, 101 Studios oversees and manages the newly formed Sports Illustrated Studios, a content platform based on the biggest and most compelling stories, characters and moments in sports past, present and future.
ABOUT MAD CHANCE PRODUCTIONS:
Academy Award-Nominated Producer Andrew Lazar formed Mad Chance Productions in 1995 with a mandate to focus on smart, intriguing material in every genre and budget range. His debut was the Shakespeare-influenced teen comedy 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU starring Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Julia Stiles. His highly-acclaimed film AMERICAN SNIPER (directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper) went on to become the highest grossing domestic release of 2014, and received 6 Academy Award nominations.
Upcoming releases for Mad Chance include CLOUDS, the true story of Zach Sobiech who became the first unsigned artist to reach No 1 on iTunes before passing away from a rare form of cancer at the age of 18. The film stars Sabrina Carpenter, Neve Campbell and newcomer Fin Argus and is directed by Justin Baldoni (FIVE FEET APART). With a first-look deal at Warner Bros., Lazar has produced GET SMART, CATS & DOGS and SPACE COWBOYS in addition to other films, and is currently engaged with the studio on a number of projects. Among these, Lazar is working alongside Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way to adapt the cult classic Japanese manga "Akira" by Katsuhiro Otomo with Taika Waititi attached to write and direct.
ABOUT BROLIN PRODUCTIONS:
Brolin Productions was founded in 2009 by Academy Award nominated actor Josh Brolin. With a slate of film and television projects spanning multiple genres, Brolin Productions is dedicated to bringing authentic, original and unique stories to the screen. On the features side, Brolin Productions is currently in pre-production on the Legendary comedy BROTHERS which will star Brolin and Peter Dinklage, who will also produce through his company Estuary Films. Andrew Lazar also serves as a producer via his Mad Chance banner. Written and to be directed by Macon Blair, the film follows the duo as pair of brothers. Brolin Productions is also in development with Universal on a retelling of QUASIMODO, based on the literary classic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. On the small screen, the company is developing "The Untitled Josh Brolin Project" with Hulu, about a soulless movie star named Josh Brolin who leaves Hollywood, has an ayahuasca trip and becomes a self-help guru. Previously, Brolin Productions produced THE PEOPLE SPEAK, a documentary feature film which is based on historian Howard Zinn's book, A People's History of the United States. Brolin produced alongside Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Anthony Arnove and Zinn, who also narrated the film.
ABOUT FRECKLE FILMS:
Freckle Films is a New York based film and television production company launched by two-time Academy Award nominated actress Jessica Chastain in 2016. Currently in post-production on: THE 355, an international spy thriller based on an original idea by Chastain, starring Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Fan Bing Bing, Diane Kruger and Lupita Nyong'o that is slated for release in January 2021 and THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE based on the documentary by the same name for Searchlight, with Michael Showalter directing and Chastain starring as Tammy Faye Bakker and Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker. Freckle Films is currently in development with Netflix on THE DIVISION, based on the best-selling Ubisoft video game, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Chastain starring. Additionally, Freckle is developing a series adaptation of the novel HIS & HERS written by Alice Feeney alongside Endeavor Content.
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