Hasbro Studios, the Los Angeles-based television production and distribution division of Hasbro, Inc., has signed writer-executive producer Jeff Kline (Transformers: Prime, G.I. Joe: Renegades) to an overall series development and producing deal. Hasbro Studios President Stephen Davis announced the four-year agreement, exclusive in children’s television animation, today.
Kline has written and produced extensively for primetime while concurrently developing and showrunning more than a dozen animated series, including Jackie Chan Adventures (Kids WB!), Men In Black: The Series (Kids WB!), Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles (Synd. and the Emmy-nominated Dragon Tales (PBS). Kline is currently the executive producer and co-developer of both Transformers: Prime (with partners Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci) and G.I. Joe: Renegades (working along side creative stewards Marty Eisenberg and Henry Gilroy). Both series are for The Hub and the international market.
“Jeff is a truly gifted writer and producer with a phenomenal understanding of our target audience,” Davis said. “His track record speaks for itself, as he has consistently delivered highly-rated shows in all dayparts with great stories and great characters. Transformers: Prime and G.I. Joe: Renegades are just the beginning of a terrific collaboration, and we look forward to working with Jeff well into the future.”
Kline served as senior VP of drama development at Columbia Pictures Television before segueing in 1995 to a prolific career “above-the-line.” He is represented by Nancy Etz at CAA, Mark Wheeler of The Pitt Group and attorney Tom Collier.
-thewrap/broadcastingcable
