EXCLUSIVE: iHeartMedia has entered into a multi-year first-look development deal on all projects developed by CitizenSkull, the companies announced today.
The partnership establishes an ongoing, multi-project relationship focused on developing and producing premium scripted audio content in the elevated genre space and an emphasis on franchise-ready intellectual property.
The first project under the deal will be Prodigal, a sci-fi thriller created and written by New York Times bestselling comic book duo Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, set to release this fall. Kevin Arbouet is showrunning, with Sean M. Butler and Mark Myers exec producing for CitizenSkull. Butler is also serving as producer, along with Paul Yurick of The Future Party, with Boye Akolade as co-EP.
“We built this partnership with iHeart to create elevated genre storytelling that doesn’t just live in audio, but has the potential to expand across platforms,” said CitizenSkull’s Butler. “‘Prodigal’ is exactly the type of bold, high-concept IP we want to bring to market—grounded in character but designed to scale.”
iHeartPodcasts President Will Pearson said, “The deal underscores iHeartMedia’s continued commitment to high-end scripted audio, aligning with top-tier creative talent to develop original IP with multiplatform franchise potential.”