Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's Landmark Studio Group Partners with District 33 to Develop and Produce Limited Event Drama Series, Shadows in the Vineyard

New York, NY

Published on: August 4, 2020

Noah Wyle and Judith Light Slated to Star and Executive Produce Series Based on Maximillian Potter’s Bestselling Novel with Production Anticipated to Begin in Q1 2021

Landmark Studio Group (Landmark), a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) company, has partnered with District 33 (BlackBalled) to develop and produce a new limited event drama series, Shadows in the Vineyard, with multiple award-winning actors Noah Wyle (The Red Line, Falling Skies, ER) and Judith Light (The Politician, Transparent, Ugly Betty, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story) slated to star and executive produce.

Based on the shockingly true tale of a plot to destroy the vines of La Romance-Conti, Burgundy's finest and most expensive wine as featured in journalist Maximillian Potter’s New York Times critically acclaimed and bestselling book, Shadows in the Vineyard: The True Story of the Plot to Poison The World's Greatest Wine, the new series will be scripted by John Newman (Get Shorty, Proud Mary), Peter Cambor and Potter. Shadows in the Vineyard will be executive produced by Cambor and Sam Widdoes of District 33, Potter, Newman, Light, Wyle, and Landmark’s David Ozer and Tim Rouhana. Landmark will market the series, which will be distributed by Screen Media, and anticipates production to begin in Q1 2021 in Europe. The deal was brokered by Danny Sussman at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Josie Freedman at ICM, and Larry Weissman at Larry Weissman Literary Agency.

Set against the backdrop of the gorgeous, rolling countryside of the Côte-d’Or in Burgundy, France, Shadows in the Vineyard is based on the true story of the outlandish 2010 plot-by-poison extortion scheme, a sinister criminal conspiracy which targeted the most sought-after and expensive wine in the world – the legendary Romanée-Conti.

“This is a fascinating crime story, but it’s really a love story,” Potter said. “I went to Burgundy not knowing or caring a thing about wine; I went to report on a crime, but I fell in love with Burgundy. When I was losing faith in the world and my fellow man, burned out by the ugliness I had been covering as a journalist, Burgundy came out of nowhere and restored my faith in life, in humanity. The world needs to know a place and a people like Burgundy exists as it gives us all hope and something to aspire to. Maybe now more than ever.”

“Shadows in the Vineyard is rife with rich characters and a compelling narrative that will take viewers on a twisted tale of both a shocking who-done-it mystery and a journey of self-discovery that will resonate with a global audience,” stated Landmark’s Ozer. “With Maximillian, John, Peter and Sam leading the charge of capturing the heart of the story for the screen, along with the star talents of Judith and Noah and a beautiful location to create the ambience, we have no doubt that this series, which has spin-off potential, will be a hit.”

ABOUT LANDMARK STUDIO GROUP

Landmark Studio Group, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company, is a fully-integrated entertainment company, which aims to create compelling, engaging and entertaining content for global distribution utilizing internal distribution channels, including Crackle Plus and Screen Media Ventures, or in partnership with third party platforms. Recent projects include the feature film Willy’s Wonderland, starring Nicolas Cage; the action film series, Trigger Point; and the television series, SafeHaven, as well as projects in active development to be produced in Fall 2020 and beyond, including the original dramedy series, Flagrant, starring Michael Rapaport. Landmark Studio Group is headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles.

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) operates streaming video-on-demand networks (VOD). The company owns a majority stake in Crackle Plus, a company formed with Sony Pictures Television, which owns and operates a variety of ad-supported and subscription-based VOD networks including Crackle, Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids, Truli, Pivotshare, Españolflix and FrightPix. The company also acquires and distributes video content through its Screen Media subsidiary and produces original long and short-form content through Landmark Studio Group, its Chicken Soup for the Soul Originals division and APlus.com. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, which publishes the famous book series and produces super-premium pet food under the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand name.

ABOUT SCREEN MEDIA VENTURES, LLC

Screen Media Ventures, LLC, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) company, acquires the rights to high quality, independent television series and feature films for the US and Canada. Screen Media Ventures acquires worldwide rights for distribution through theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, free, cable and pay television, video-on-demand, and new digital media platforms. The company acquires AVOD rights for third party networks and is the main supplier of content for Crackle Plus and other Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment properties. With a library of over 1,500 television series and motion pictures, Screen Media Ventures is one of the largest independent suppliers of high-quality TV series and motion pictures to U.S. and international broadcast markets, cable networks, home video outlets and new media venues. For more information, visit: www.screenmedia.net.

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