FX Networks and FX Productions CEO John Landgraf told TV critics meeting Thursday in Pasadena that the number of original scripted programming won’t reach its peak until 2017 or 2018, despite 454 scripted programs currently on cable, broadcast and streaming services.
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Landgraf also admitted he was incorrect in his initial prediction regarding the peak of scripted TV, he ultimately said that he was “going out on a limb” to predict that the number of scripted shows will begin to decline “sometime in 2017 or 2018.”
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The FX boss also added that the network had its best year in 2016 and has a strong lineup set for 2017, although two of the network’s most popular shows of last year – Atlanta and American Crime Story – will not return until 2018.
Landgraf announced that Atlanta star and recent Golden Globe winner Donald Glover will be busy working on the next Star Wars film—a Han Solo prequel in which Glover plays young Lando Calrissian—delaying the show’s second season, while FX wants to take its time developing American Crime Story’s focus on Hurricane Katrina.
“We have high ambitions for this franchise,” Landgraf said. “It’s taken time to get material that we’ve happy with.”
Landgraf also announced that Glover is signed to an exclusive overall television production deal with FX Productions. Under the new deal, Glover—who this past Sunday won the Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy series for his portrayal of Earnest “Earn” Marks on Atlanta, which also won for best comedy series – will develop TV series for FX Networks as well as for other networks and streaming services, according to Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, presidents of original programming, FX Networks and FX Productions.
FX has also made strides in diversifying its showrunners, according to Landgraf, with non-white males representing 52% of its original series producers in 2016.
“It’s a work in progress,” Landgraf said. “We’re going to keep going until everything about our channel is fair and better reflects the diversity of the country that we live in.”
[Image courtesy of Fox]
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