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The digital news outlet Axios is making a big bet in the entertainment space, launching a new studio division that will develop and produce original nonfiction film and series programming.
The new division, Axios Entertainment, is led by Erica Winograd and has projects in development with Tom Brady’s Shadow Lion, Chrissy Teigen‘s Huntley Productions, Guy Ritchie, Mark Wahlberg’s Unrealistic Ideas, Ample Entertainment and Maven, the company says.
Other members of the Axios Entertainment team include editorial director Raisa Zaidi and director of development Juliet Bartz.
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“Entertainment programming is a natural next step for Axios, using engaging documentary storytelling to make audiences smarter, faster about the ever-changing world around them,” says Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei.
It also has its first series pickup: The Money Game, at Prime Video. Produced in partnership with Campfire Studios and Shaquille O’Neal’s Jersey Legends, The Money Game will look at the impact of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals through the eyes of a handful of athletes at Louisiana State University, including gymnast Olivia Dunne, basketball stars Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson, and football star and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.
Axios has explored video before, most notably with its news-driven series Axios on HBO, which ran for four seasons. The outlet’s majority owner is Cox Enterprises, which is in the cable and publishing businesses.
The media company founded by Politico veterans VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz has also expanded into new areas in recent years, including a local and regional news effort in Axios Local and the subscription-focused Axios Pro. It also spun out a communications software business called Axios HQ last year.
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