BEIJING, Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI
Inc. (NASDAQ: IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an
innovative market-leading online entertainment service
in China, today announced that it has obtained exclusive
rights in China for the airing of
"Catch-22", a limited series
executive produced and directed by George
Clooney, who will also co-star. Under a licensing deal with
leading studio Paramount Pictures, iQIYI expects to air the series
immediately following its U.S. premiere on Hulu in 2019.
Adapted from Joseph Heller's
iconic novel, "Catch-22" tells the darkly comic story of Yossarian,
a U.S. Air Force pilot during WWII and his struggle with the
absurdity of war and bureaucracy. Clooney is joined by a stellar
cast of actors including Christopher
Abbott, Kyle Chandler,
Hugh Laurie and Giancarlo Giannini.
"iQIYI is proud to have exclusive rights to bring George Clooney's seminal limited series 'Catch-22' to the Chinese market,"
said iQIYI Vice President Michael
Chen. "As China's largest streaming platform, iQIYI is
increasingly becoming recognized as the premium option for
introducing the highest quality entertainment content to Chinese
entertainment fans."
"We are delighted to be working with iQIYI to bring George Clooney's highly anticipated 'Catch-22'
to audiences across China," said
Jonathan Greenberg, Senior Vice
President, Regional Sales, Asia
Pacific for Paramount. "This compelling limited series is
exactly the kind of high-quality, premium entertainment that iQIYI
users have come to expect and we look forward to delivering more
world-class programming in the future."
![iQIYI Gains Exclusive Broadcast Rights in China for George Clooney’s “Catch-22” iQIYI Gains Exclusive Broadcast Rights in China for George Clooney’s “Catch-22”](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/823609/Catch_22.jpg)
"Catch-22" will be adapted as a six-episode, hour-long limited
drama series from Paramount Television, Anonymous Content,
George Clooney and Grant Heslov.
"Catch-22" is executive produced by George
Clooney and Grant Heslov ("Argo") on behalf of Smokehouse
Pictures, along with Richard Brown
("True Detective") and Steve Golin
("Spotlight") on behalf of Anonymous Content. Luke Davies ("Lion") and David Michôd ("Animal
Kingdom") are co-writers and executive producers for the series.
Ellen Kuras ("Eternal Sunshine of
the Spotless Mind") serves as producer and will direct two
episodes. Clooney and Heslov will also each direct two
episodes.
About iQIYI, Inc.
iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company") is an
innovative market-leading online entertainment service
in China. Its corporate DNA combines creative talent with
technology, fostering an environment for continuous innovation and
the production of blockbuster content. iQIYI's platform features
highly popular original content, as well as a comprehensive library
of other professionally-produced content, partner-generated content
and user-generated content. The Company distinguishes itself in the
online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform
powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core
proprietary technologies. iQIYI attracts a massive user base with
tremendous user engagement, and has developed a diversified
monetization model including membership services, online
advertising services, content distribution, live broadcasting,
online games, IP licensing, online literature and e-commerce etc.
For more information on iQIYI, please
visit http://ir.iqiyi.com.
About Paramount Pictures Worldwide Television Licensing &
Distribution
Paramount Pictures Worldwide Television Licensing &
Distribution (PWTLD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation
(PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed
entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA),
home to premier media brands that create television programs,
motion pictures, consumer products, and digital content for
audiences in 180 countries and territories. The PWTLD division is
responsible for licensing Paramount Pictures' feature films and
television programming for exhibition across all forms of linear
channels as well as on-demand services around the world.
About Paramount Television
Paramount Television is a leading studio, developing and
financing a wide range of cutting-edge and entertaining television
content across all media platforms for distribution worldwide. The
studio's robust slate includes Tom
Clancy's "Jack Ryan"
(Amazon), "13 Reasons Why" (Netflix), "Maniac" (Netflix), "Berlin
Station" (EPIX), "The Alienist" (TNT), "The Angel of Darkness"
(TNT), "The Haunting of Hill House" (Netflix), "Catch-22" (Hulu),
"First Wives Club" (BET), "Looking for Alaska" (Hulu), "Boomerang" (BET), "Shantaram"
(Apple), "Defending Jacob" (Apple), "Dream Team" (BET) and the
"Untitled Hilde Lysiak Project" (Apple), among others. Paramount
Television is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a
global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a
subsidiary of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a global content company
with premier television, film and digital entertainment brands.
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SOURCE iQIYI, Inc.