FX Closes First-Look Deal with Sacha Baron Cohen's Four By Two; Orders ALI G: REZURECTION for 2014

FX Productions (FXP) has closed a first-look TV deal with Sacha Baron Cohen's production company, Four By Two, and FXX has ordered Ali G: Rezurection to begin airing in early 2014. Ali G: Rezurection includes every episode of Da Ali G Show with new, original introductions starring Baron Cohen, along with the BAFTA Award winning English episodes of Da Ali G Show that never aired on American television and The Best of Ali G. The deal was announced today by Nick Grad, President of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions and Eric Schrier, President of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions.

"We're thrilled to be in business with Sacha Baron Cohen," said Grad, "He is an amazing talent and we look forward to him developing new series for FXP. We're also excited to introduce Da Ali G Show and Sacha's characters to a new audience on FXX, and we can't wait to see how he will incorporate new, original content in the episodes."

Da Ali G Show debuted on Channel 4 in the U.K. in 2003. A character created by Baron Cohen, Ali G originated on Channel 4'sThe 11 O'clock Show and was spun off into Da Ali G Show. Baron Cohen produced 18 episodes, with 12 of those episodes airing on HBO in the U.S.

Alongside the eponymous Ali G, Da Ali G Show also features the much beloved Borat and Bruno characters, both of whom later headlined critically-acclaimed feature films. In addition to the Ali G episodes, FXX will receive and air all of the Ali G segments and vignettes from The 11 O'clock Show. Baron Cohen is represented by WME and Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman & Cook.

In addition to its deal with Four By Two Films, FXP currently has production output deals in place with RCG Productions, the production company of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Executive Producer/Showrunners Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton, and Floyd County Productions, the production company of Archer Executive Producer/Showrunners Adam Reed and Matt Thompson. FXP recently announced a cable exclusive, first-look pact with Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and their Color Force production company, producers of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid feature franchise and The Hunger Games. It was the first POD deal for FX Productions that was not established through a prior existing relationship with the studio. FXP has a first-look cable deal with Paul Giamatti, Dan Carey and their production company, Touchy Feely Films.

ABOUT FXX

FXX is the new basic cable entertainment network from FX Networks which launched on September 2, 2013. Geared toward a young adult audience, the schedule features original series, movies, and acquired series. The channel is anchored by the acclaimed hit comedies It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Legit, Chozen, Wilfred, and the critically acclaimed latenight strip, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. FXX is carried in more than 72 million homes. FXX and its sister channels FX and FXM comprise FX Networks, a business unit of 21 Century Fox.

ABOUT FX PRODUCTIONS

FX Productions produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, Legit, Chozen, and the late night series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. FXP co-produces the award-winning hit drama series Sons of Anarchy and Justified, the critically acclaimed drama The Americans and the upcoming drama series The Bridge. FXP is also producing limited series and miniseries for FX and FOX.

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