Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media, the production company he co-founded in 2018 alongside Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, has officially entered a new multi-year agreement with Netflix.
According to Variety, the deal gives Netflix exclusive rights to Proximity Media’s television projects, meaning the company will now develop all of its TV series specifically for the streaming platform.
The announcement comes shortly after the company’s previous five-year overall TV deal with Disney came to an end earlier this year. During that partnership, Proximity Media worked on projects such as Ironheart and the documentary series Hurricane Katrina: A Race Against Time, along with several other productions.
In a joint statement, Coogler, Ohanian, and Zinzi Coogler explained the creative vision behind the company and their excitement about the new partnership.
"We started Proximity Media with a simple goal: to tell event-driven stories that bring people in close proximity with often overlooked subjects. As we continue to expand Proximity’s television business, we’re thrilled to partner with Netflix, a company that has consistently demonstrated its commitment to distinctive creators and original storytelling," said the Cooglers and Ohanian in a joint statement. "We look forward to working alongside Bela, Jinny, Nne and the entire Netflix team as we bring stories to television audiences around the world."
Netflix also welcomed the partnership, with Jinny Howe, head of U.S. and Canada scripted series, praising Proximity Media’s creative track record and storytelling approach.
"Proximity Media has built a remarkable reputation for championing visionary creators and producing stories that resonate deeply with audiences worldwide," he said. "We are excited to welcome the entire Proximity team to Netflix and look forward to bringing their next slate of groundbreaking series to life alongside Nne Ebong and our studio team."
Despite the new Netflix deal, Proximity Media continues to develop projects elsewhere. The company is currently working on an X-Files reboot at Hulu starring Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel, as well as a Southern Bastards adaptation featuring Kevin Bacon, Erin Kellyman, and Tim McGraw. Both projects remain under Disney’s broader streaming umbrella due to Hulu’s ownership structure.
Proximity Media previously held a five-year exclusive television deal with Disney starting in 2018, during which it also contributed to animated projects connected to the Black Panther universe.
On the film side, the company reached a major milestone with the Warner Bros.-distributed film Sinners. Produced on a $90 million budget, the movie went on to earn $365 million worldwide and became a critical success.
The film also earned a record-breaking 16 nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, winning four major awards, including Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan.
