WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY, DIRECTED BY AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKERS THOM ZIMNY AND OREN MOVERMAN,
TO PREMIERE ON PARAMOUNT+ ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21
Four-part docuseries Executive Produced by Academy Award® nominee and Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan,
presented by MTV Entertainment Studios in association with 101 Studios, Blackbird Presents Films and Sight Unseen
December 14, 2023 – Paramount+ today announced that the documentary series WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY, which garnered widespread critical acclaim following its original world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, will premiere as a four-part series exclusively on the service beginning Thursday, December 21.
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Exploring the extraordinary life of one of the world’s most talented music icons, WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY is the first and only authorized work about the groundbreaking, multi-hyphenate artist who is universally beloved by fans from all walks of life.
Presented by MTV Entertainment Studios, in association with 101 Studios, Blackbird Presents Films and Sight Unseen, the four-part series delves into the unparalleled seven-decade career of Willie Nelson, 90, who has carved his rightful place among the greatest singer-songwriter and guitar players of all time, and underscores both his personal and professional highs and lows. At turns spiritual, dramatic and playful, the film spotlights the badass American outlaw cowboy who transcended his humble beginnings in small-town Abbott, Texas, and speaks volumes through his lyrics and melodies, philanthropy, marijuana advocacy and activism on behalf of the American farmer.
Directed and executive produced by Emmy Award® & Grammy Award®-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny (Sly, Springsteen on Broadway, The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash), Academy Award®-nominated & Emmy Award®-winning filmmaker Oren Moverman (Love & Mercy, The Messenger) and executive produced by Academy Award®-nominated and multi-award-winning storyteller Taylor Sheridan (YELLOWSTONE, Hell or High Water, Wind River), WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY fuses their unique styles to construct an intimate and cinematic memoir of the Red Headed Stranger, told in Willie’s own voice. Filmed throughout the country, the series traces back through time to weave perspectives from the artist’s actual and figurative families, including his children, sister Bobbie Nelson, fellow musicians, lifelong friends, producers, lawyers, booking agent, tour manager, driver, several Willie-ologists, concert goers and anyone who shaped or was shaped by the quintessential visionary.
“Willie’s music formed the soundtrack of my youth. His songwriting helped shape me as a storyteller,” said executive producer Taylor Sheridan. “Willie is a national treasure and his story will serve as inspiration for all those seeking their own path that leads away from the clouds of compromise. Willie has opened his life to us — warts and all — to serve as a beacon to overcoming failure, realizing dreams, and keeping your compass once the dream is achieved.”
“It's been an honor of a lifetime to live in Willie World and travel this long road with the great man and his family. Willie is the last of the consensus artists in America, bringing together people from across every divide: age, class, race, orientation, political affiliation, and more. And so this series, like Willie's music, is about healing. Let there be more of it. Let it be as deeply felt as Willie Nelson. We couldn't be more grateful,” said Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman.
The project was developed by longtime Nelson manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents Founder & Chief Creative Officer Keith Wortman, who have collaborated on several award-winning film, television and music projects.
“Telling Willie’s story has been a lifelong dream of ours, and we feel privileged to partner with Paramount+, Taylor Sheridan, David Glasser and their teams in bringing his story to the world,” said Keith Wortman and Mark Rothbaum.
WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY is directed and executive produced by Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman. Executive Producers are Taylor Sheridan, Keith Wortman (Blackbird Presents), Mark Rothbaum, Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman (Sight Unseen). David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari serve as executive producers for 101 Studios. Annie D’Angelo-Nelson, Leonid Lebedev, Mark Ankner and Sean Stuart also serve as executive producers.
About Paramount+
Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and A Mountain of Entertainment™. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, the service's cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME® content, including scripted hits, critically acclaimed nonfiction projects, SHOWTIME SPORTS® (including industry-leading SHOWTIME BOXING®) and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf, basketball and more. All Paramount+ subscribers have streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.
For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platform.
About SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks
SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others – and, its Studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today’s biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, 1883, 1923, George & Tammy, South Park, Tulsa King, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Challenge and Jersey Shore, to name a few.
About 101 Studios
101 Studios is a global entertainment company dedicated to the acquisition, financing, development, production and distribution of high-caliber, creator-driven content. With an unmatched television slate partnered with outstanding filmmakers and talent, 101 Studios productions include the award-winning series Yellowstone, George & Tammy and 1883. We also produce some of the most critically acclaimed shows, such as 1923, MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, TULSA KING and SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS. Upcoming projects include LAWMEN: BASS REEVES and LAND MAN.
Building upon this success, 101 Studios’ Unscripted Division works with talented storytellers in bringing their vision to life. Some of these projects include Amazon Prime documentary Kickback which is an expose on the corruption inside the largest sport’s organization in the world: FIFA; The Last Cowboy, a documentary on the high stakes world of professional horse reining, and the upcoming HBO docuseries about the sexual abuse and cover-up at Ohio State University, co-produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures. On the scripted film side, past releases include the Sundance Audience award winner Burden, as well as the family comedy The War With Grandpa, the historical drama The Current War: Director's Cut and the upcoming FINESTKIND. 101 Studios advocates for first-class collaboration and innovation. As an example we are partnered with iHeartRadio and Sports Illustrated Studios on the Ambie nominated podcast Choosing Sides: F1. 101 Studios also produces high-profile sports content under its own label, 101 Sports. Additionally, 101 Studios' Brand Division increases the exposure for the properties of our partners to millions across the world.
About Oren Moverman
Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Oren Moverman has been involved in more than thirty independent feature films as a screenwriter, director, and/or producer over the past two decades. Moverman made his directorial feature debut in 2009 with The Messenger (Oscilloscope), which was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Screenplay for Moverman and Alessandro Camon, and Best Supporting Actor for Woody Harrelson. Following, Moverman wrote and directed Rampart, a Millennium Entertainment release, Time Out of Mind (IFC), and The Dinner (The Orchard). Moverman is the co-founder of Sight Unseen Pictures, alongside Julia Lebedev, and Eddie Vaisman, an independent production/financing company with offices in Los Angeles and New York. He served as producer on Bad Education (HBO), for which he won an Emmy as part of Sight Unseen.
About Thom Zimny
Thom Zimny is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning artist and the director of Sly, the Sylvester Stallone documentary [Netflix / 2023], Bruce Springsteen’s Letter To You [Apple TV / 2020], Springsteen on Broadway [Netflix 2018], Elvis Presley: The Searcher [HBO 2018] and The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash [2019].
About Blackbird Presents
Blackbird Presents is an award-winning creator and producer of premium music-driven content via a range of strategies including all-star concert events, tours, festivals, broadcast specials and films. Its projects feature the biggest music stars in the world (including Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, George Strait, Steven Tyler, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Jimmy Buffett, The Roots, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brandi Carlile, Lionel Richie, Reba McEntire, John Mayer, Kacey Musgraves, Darius Rucker, Jack Johnson, Robert Plant, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Juanes, Van Morrison, Sturgill Simpson, Lady A, Little Big Town, Ringo Starr, Idina Menzel, Becky G, Nathaniel Rateliff, and many others), produced for a portfolio of studio and network partners including CBS, Viacom, A&E, AMC, CMT, Live Nation, AEG, Nederlander, Facebook, PBS and more. Recent music, film, and television projects include Willie: Life & Songs Of An American Outlaw, Biography: Kenny Rogers, Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert, Peace Through Music: A Global Event For Social Justice, Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard, The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson, Outlaw: Celebrating The Music of Waylon Jennings, I'll Take You There: Celebrating 75 Years of Mavis Staples, The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris, The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: Celebrating Mac and His Music, and All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs and Voice of Gregg Allman, which earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination for Gregg Allman and Taj Mahal's awe-inspiring performance of Statesboro Blues. Blackbird Presents is also the creator and producer of The Outlaw Music Festival Tour, in partnership with Willie Nelson; The American Roots Music & Arts Festival, in partnership with Eric Church; and The Last Waltz 40 Tour in partnership with Robbie Robertson.
About Sight Unseen
Founded by producers Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman in 2017, along with Academy Award nominated filmmaker Oren Moverman, Sight Unseen is a film and television production company with offices in Los Angeles and New York. Sight Unseen’s most recent feature film, A.V. Rockwell’s A Thousand And One, the winner of the 2023 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, was released by Focus Features in spring of 2023. The company’s next film, Kobi Libii’s hilarious and poignant debut, The American Society of Magical Negroes, starring Justice Smith and David Allen Grier, is being released Spring 2024, also by Focus Features. Both Rockwell and Libii are Sundance Lab alums. Sight Unseen’s upcoming slate includes the comedic drama, Rental Family, set to film in Japan early next year with filmmaker Hikari (BEEF) writing and directing. The company is also preparing for Harmonia with Academy Award winner Guy Nattiv (Skin), based on the story of his grandmother who joined an all-female cult. Sight Unseen recently announced Shared Wisdom, the true story of an underdog high school soccer team and their coach, a former combat soldier in Iraq. Also in development is the elevated climate change thriller The Event. In the television space, Sight Unseen is developing Kiley Reid’s bestselling novel Such a Fun Age at Hulu. Also in development is the limited series, Homeland Elegies, adapted from a semi-autobiographical novel with its writer, Pultizer Prize winner, Ayad Akhtar.
Other creative partners with projects in development with Sight Unseen include Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine), Arturo Castro (Alternatino), David Matthews (Vinyl), and Paul Weitz (About A Boy, Grandma). Previous company credits include Kent Jones’ Independent Spirit Award nominee Diane; the Sundance hit and Special Jury Prize-winning Monsters and Men, Reinaldo Marcus Green’s (King Richard) directorial debut which was distributed by NEON; and Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife, an Independent Spirit Award nominee.
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Originally published: December 14, 2023.
