NBA Hall of Famer and TNT broadcaster Charles Barkley and EverWonder Studio, the independent content studio led by Ian Orefice and backed by Jeff Zucker’s RedBird IMI, have announced the launch of a new media production joint venture, ‘Round Mound Media’, which the company says will develop original documentary, scripted and live content.
Barkley will remain in his exclusive role with TNT Sports and the plan is for the two to work together on some of the ‘Round Mound Media’ projects. A release from the company says TNT Sports will have a first look at all sports projects produced by Barkley. Barkley’s manager Marc Perman will serve as president of the new production company in addition to his current role with Perman Management, Inc.
“Round Mound Media is about creating an outlet for my vision to share compelling, original stories meant to captivate audiences across the world,” said Barkley in a release. “I’ve always looked for projects and relationships that will allow me to be authentic, and hopefully to build my platform for making the world a better place. EverWonder Studio is the perfect partner to be my creative home and bring this to the next level. Fans will love what we have in the works and I’m excited to get started.”
The company said, “Round Mound Media’s projects will illuminate the connections between sports and the rest of the world, with stories spanning race, culture, history, and other areas well beyond the court or the stadium. Ten projects are already in development, including the definitive long-form documentary about Barkley’s life – which will paint a vivid portrait of one of basketball’s most impactful, legendary, and beloved figures – and a franchise of documentary films that will each spotlight previously unexplored basketball-related stories, curated and narrated by the Hall of Famer. Multiple scripted projects are in development as well.”
Perman explained, “With this new joint venture, we have the backing of a studio that understands and believes in Charles’s creative vision and will elevate his prolific ideas. EverWonder is an excellent partner to amplify Charles’s unmatched voice and perspective in a way that fans and audiences haven’t seen before, and we can’t wait to bring these new opportunities to screen.”
