‘Hair Love’ Filmmaker Matthew Cherry Signs Deal With Warner Bros. Television

Matthew Cherry and Hair Love (Courtesy: Blue Key Animation and Sony Pictures Animation)

Matthew A. Cherry, the creator and director behind the Oscar-winning animated short film Hair Love has signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.

Cherry inked the multi-year agreement with the studio to develop new television programming, including comedies, dramas and event series for its cable and streaming platforms, his reps announced in a press release Wednesday.

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The deal follows Cherry’s 2020 Academy Award in the best animated short film category for writing and co-directing Hair Love, which follows an African-American father figuring out how to do his daughter’s curly hair for the first time. The title Hair Love was based on Cherry’s best-selling book of the same name.

“I am beyond excited to be joining the Warner Bros. Television family in this exciting new capacity,” Cherry said. “It’s an important time to be a Black creative working in this industry, and I look forward to creating impactful projects and partnering with other talented marginalized voices in our community.”

The future series will be produced through his company Cherry Lane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television, Warner Horizon Scripted Television, Warner Bros. Animation or Blue Ribbon Content, depending on the content.

Prior to signing the deal with the studio, Cherry directed episodes of Warner Bros. Television’s The Red Line and the action-drama Whiskey Cavalier for ABC.

Cherry is represented by ICM Partners, Blue Key Management, and The Law Offices of R. Vaughn Gill.