Natasha Lyonne’s Animal Pictures Inks First-Look Deal With Sister

EXCLUSIVE: After assembling her core U.S. executive team, Sister‘s new Global CEO Cindy Holland is starting to build the independent entertainment group’s talent roster. Her first U.S. talent deal at Sister is with Animal Pictures, the production company led by actor, writer, director and producer Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face).

Under the first-look pact for film and TV, Sister will provide Lyonne with backing for the company’s upcoming slate. Animal Pictures will grow its executive team and expand its operations as it develops and produces films and series across different genres and platforms, collaborating with Sister’s portfolio of media companies. In addition to producing, Lyonne could potentially star, write or direct, depending on the project.

“I am profoundly excited to dive in on our new Animal slate with the extraordinary team at Sister,” said Lyonne. “Joining forces with this brilliant, seasoned and radical brain trust, led by CEO Cindy Holland, is deeply inspiring and motivating.”

This marks the first deal for Animal Pictures with Lyonne solely at the helm after she and original partner Maya Rudolph parted ways last fall.

“Our industry sits at crucial crossroads; now is the time to come together as artists, to innovate and build the future we want to see,” Lyinne added. “Over many decades in this industry, I’ve witnessed that truly distinct voices penetrate the zeitgeist more reliably than group think. It’s a gift to embark on a fresh leg of this lifetime journey with Sister and to collaborate with some of our generation’s most important voices and talents. To quote my mentor, Joe Gideon, ‘It’s showtime, folks.'”

Like with her executive hirings, bringing in Netflix alums Jane Wiseman and Efrain Miron as Head of U.S. Television and President, Strategy and Business Affairs, respectively, Holland’s first U.S. talent deal is with someone she worked with in her previous role as the global streamer’s head of original TV content.

At Netflix, Holland commissioned Russian Doll, co-created, executive produced and starring Lyonne, with the two jointly announcing the acclaimed series’ Season 2 renewal while appearing on a panel together.

“Natasha Lyonne is a singular talent in our industry; a quadruple threat as an actor, writer, director, producer and a proven hitmaker who creates unforgettable characters and worlds,” Holland said. “She is a beloved and deeply respected leader who is always pushing the boundaries of entertainment and we are thrilled to welcome her to Sister.”

Animal Pictures currently has four shows on the air, including Rian Johnson’s award-winning Peacock hit Poker Face, headlined by Lyonne, which is in production on its second season, with Lyonne also writing and directing.

This year saw the release of the second season of Apple’s Loot, the Amazon animated sci-fi series The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, which has been renewed for a second season, and the Netflix comedy special, Jacqueline Novak: Get On Your Knees, directed by Lyonne.

Upcoming for Animal, Lyonne produces and co–stars opposite Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon in Azazel Jacobs’ film His Three Daughters, which was acquired by Netflix at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival.

As an actor, Lyonne recently wrapped production on Taika Waititi’s film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling novel Klara and the Sun, produced by 3000 Pictures and Sony. She is repped by CAA and Schreck Rose Dapello.