Charles Barkley is launching a new production venture with big plans to get into the scripted, documentary, and live programming space.
The former NBA star and current TNT Sports analyst will launch Round Mound Media in partnership with EverWonder Studio, with backing from Jeff Zucker’s RedBird IMI. Barkley’s longtime manager Marc Perman will be president of Round Mound in addition to leading his management company.
TNT Sports will have a first-look deal with Round Mound, with Barkley recently reaffirming his commitment to stay with the company as an on-air commentator, regardless of what happens to its NBA rights. The company has 10 projects already in development, including the “definitive” documentary about Barkley’s life.
“Round Mound Media is about creating an outlet for my vision to share compelling, original stories meant to captivate audiences across the world,” said Barkley in a statement. “I’ve always looked for projects and relationships that will allow me to be authentic, and hopefully to build my platform for making the world a better place. EverWonder Studio is the perfect partner to be my creative home and bring this to the next level. Fans will love what we have in the works and I’m excited to get started.”
EverWonder, led by former Time Studios chief Ian Orefice, launched last year as the first company backed by Zucker’s RedBird IMI. It has made sports-adjacent content a priority, with plans to launch an NIL-focused college sports event the Players Era Festival.
Barkley and Zucker, of course, know each other from Zucker’s time at WarnerMedia, where he led both CNN and Turner Sports.
“Charles has established himself as one of the most influential voices in sports media, and this joint venture is about creating opportunities to take that experience and passion for storytelling to the next level,” said Orefice. “We could not be more honored and excited to back and partner with Charles and Marc on this new journey, especially in this dynamic landscape in sports and the world at large.”
“With this new joint venture, we have the backing of a studio that understands and believes in Charles’s creative vision, and will elevate his prolific ideas,” added Perman. “EverWonder is an excellent partner to amplify Charles’s unmatched voice and perspective in a way that fans and audiences haven’t seen before, and we can’t wait to bring these new opportunities to screen.”