☰

PicoZ

Entertainment One Boards CNNs Tricky Dick Richard Nixon Series (EXCLUSIVE)

Entertainment One has landed in Cannes with “Tricky Dick” after securing the international rights to CNN‘s Richard Nixon documentary series. The deal comes as producer-distributor eOne moves more heavily into factual sales and sets out to acquire standout shows that can sit alongside its drama offerings.

Four-part documentary “Tricky Dick”  is an original from news network CNN, which launched it in the the U.S. Produced by Red Arrow-backed producer Left/Right, it explores Richard Nixon’s life and times; tracking his rise, fall, comeback and political destruction.

The series takes in his early political career in California, to the game-changing Kennedy-Nixon debates through to his disgraceful Watergate exit. The archive-based series has never-before-seen footage.

“Its pieced together through archive so you follow it as people witnessed it, as it was told [at the time],” Noel Hedges, eOne’s EVP of acquisitions, told Variety. “You’re following it first-hand rather than being told about it by an historian. It’s a slightly more authored way of looking at the whole man and not just the resignation Nixon.”

Related Stories

A robot and a cartoon shaking hands VIP+

‘Existential Threat’ of AI Central to Animation Guild Negotiations

Heaven is Beneath Mother's Feet

International Oscar Race: Kyrgyzstan Proposes 'Heaven Is Beneath Mother's Feet'

From a TV business perspective, Hedges’ acquisition is noteworthy as an example of eOne’s push deeper into factual programming. In distribution terms it is better known for its scripted titles, but is broadening its reach.

Popular on Variety

It has already picked up rights to CNN’s fashion doc “American Style” as well as Hulu’s “Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie” and “Fyre Fraud.” Hedges said eOne wants to make more factual acquisitions and add a select number of buzzy titles to its lineup.

At MipTV the eOne factual slate also includes Discovery Canada space mission show “Make it to the Moon,” and U.K. shingle Spun Gold’s royal series “Inside the Crown.”

“We want to be distinctive in the market,” Hedges said of the acquisitions strategy. He added that shows eOne is looking to pick up do not necessarily need to be big budget. “It could be something with a modest budget but with some brilliant access or a brilliant subject,” he said.

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXKFjq2taKaVrMBwsc2tnKuskZ67rrHNrWSoppVisK%2B6jKugnKCRp7FuusixpqdlpKe2pLfYZpuim5tiuqq8069kampgaH55fpJvb2g%3D

Kelle Repass

Update: 2024-08-24

<< Everybody's in LA: John Mulaney Has What Late Night Needs

Dancin Thru the Dark >>