Christine Boylan Signs First-Look Deal With Paramount Television Studios

Boylan joins Paramount Television Studios on first-look pact

Paramount Television Studios has signed Christine Boylan, a writer and executive producer on Netflix's live-action adaptation of "Avatar: The Last Airbender," to a first-look deal under which she will develop and produce original series for the studio. The agreement places Boylan within a growing slate of writer-producer deals at the David Ellison-led company and extends Paramount's push into genre programming.

Recent genre push at the studio

The Boylan arrangement comes shortly after Paramount Television Studios signed Rafe Judkins, creator of Amazon's "The Wheel of Time," to an overall deal, reflecting a deliberate effort to expand the studio's presence in the genre segment. Both deals are part of a broader strategy to bolster the studio's roster as Paramount+ ramps up its worldbuilding efforts, with Paramount having previously signaled plans for a "significant expansion" of its TV studio output.

Boylan's genre and drama credits

Boylan brings prior genre experience, having served as a co-executive producer on Marvel series including "The Punisher" and "Cloak & Dagger." She was also a co-executive producer on Peacock's "Poker Face," the mystery-of-the-week series created by Rian Johnson and starring Natasha Lyonne, adding procedural experience to her profile alongside her fantasy work on "Avatar."

Expanding talent roster at Paramount

Boylan joins a roster of established creators with deals at Paramount Television Studios that includes "Stranger Things" creators the Duffer Brothers, "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple's Iron Ocean Productions, "Yellowjackets" creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, Liz Tigelaar, Issa Rae and Jon M. Chu. Boylan is represented by WME, Art/Work Entertainment and Paul Hastings LLP.

Next milestones to watch

Look for Paramount Television Studios to announce additional overall or first-look writer-producer deals as it continues to expand its genre slate, and for the studio's expanded TV output to surface in upcoming Paramount+ development and commissioning announcements.