Peacock orders reality competition 'Assassins', with Scarlett Johansson as executive producer
Peacock has greenlit 'Assassins', a competition series based on the real-life stealth game, with Scarlett Johansson among its executive producers. It comes from Sony's B17 Entertainment.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Peacock has ordered a new competition series called Assassins, based on the stealth game played among high school and college students. VarietyLC “Peacock has greenlit a new competition series, “Assassins,” based on the popular stealth game played among high school and college students.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “The Black Widow star is exec producing Assassins, a new series greenlight at Peacock.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Scarlett Johansson is an executive producer, alongside Brien Meagher and Rhett Bachner, co-founders of B17 Entertainment, which is part of Sony Pictures Television. VarietyLC ““Assassins” is executive produced by Johansson, as well as B17 Entertainment co-founders Brien Meagher and Rhett Bachner. B17 Entertainment is a part of Sony Pictures Television.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “The series comes from Sony’s B17 Entertainment and founders Brien Meagher and Rhett Bachner are exec producing alongside Johansson.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Per the logline, each player is assigned a target they must eliminate before the season is out, so every hunter is also the hunted; with shifting alliances and deception, only the most calculating player will win. VarietyLC “each player is assigned a target — one person they must eliminate before the season is out.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “only the most calculating player will survive to win it all, per the logline.” Read at Deadline ↗
Left · 1No host has been announced. Variety notes the real-life game is usually played with NERF guns or water pistols. VarietyLC “A host for the series has yet to be announced.”“with NERF guns or water pistols most commonly used as the assassination method.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets compare the format to Peacock's The Traitors, which Variety calls Emmy-winning and hosted by Alan Cumming; Deadline says NBC is airing The Traitors: New Blood and Peacock will air season six of the celebrity edition next year. VarietyLC “another Peacock project, the Emmy-winning hit “The Traitors.” Hosted by Alan Cumming” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “NBC is currently airing The Traitors: New Blood with Peacock airing season six of the celebrity edition next year.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline adds that the game is essentially a version of tag, which Fox turned into The Ultimate Tag in 2020, and lists earlier hunted-contestant shows, including CBS's Hunted and go90's The Runner. It says it is unclear how Johansson became involved and that she joins Brad Pitt, an executive producer of Fox's Lego Masters, among A-list stars producing reality competitions. DeadlineN “It’s not clear how Johansson got involved in Assassins”“which itself was turned into The Ultimate Tag for Fox in 2020.” Read at Deadline ↗
Left · 1Variety adds that Johansson was recently announced as an executive producer of a separate comedy from her husband Colin Jost and Danny Chun, made outside the studio system and financed with brand deals. VarietyLC “a comedy project from her husband Colin Jost and “The Office” alum Danny Chun. The show was made outside of the Hollywood studio system and financed with brand deals.” Read at Variety ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Variety presents a straightforward greenlight announcement in a playful tone, with Johansson's wider producing work.
- Emphasis
- The game's premise, Johansson's other TV project, the Traitors comparison.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not discuss how Johansson got involved or earlier hunt-style shows.
- Charged language
- “Watch your back”
- For example
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“Watch your back: Peacock has greenlit a new competition series” — Variety
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline frames it as Johansson entering reality TV and places the show among game-based competition series.
- Emphasis
- Industry precedents, Johansson as latest A-list reality producer, B17's credits.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention that no host is announced or Johansson's other TV project.
- Charged language
- “getting into the reality television business”
- For example
-
“Scarlett Johansson is getting into the reality television business.” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Peacock has greenlit Assassins, a competition series based on the real-life game.
- Scarlett Johansson, Brien Meagher and Rhett Bachner are executive producers.
- B17 Entertainment, part of Sony, is behind the show.
- Each player is assigned a target to eliminate.
Peacock organisation
Peacock has ordered the series, which both outlets liken to its hit The Traitors.
“Peacock has greenlit a new competition series” — Variety
Scarlett Johansson person
Johansson is executive producer on her first reality series; Deadline says it is unclear how she got involved.
“It’s not clear how Johansson got involved in Assassins” — Deadline
Left1 article
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Neutral Light announcement piece centred on the premise and Johansson's producing slate.
Centre1 article
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Scarlett Johansson To Produce ‘Assassins’ Reality Show Ordered At Peacock
Neutral Trade report placing the show in a lineage of game-based and hunt competition formats.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 13 Oct 20:00 First DeadlineN Scarlett Johansson To Produce ‘Assassins’ Reality Show Ordered At Peacock
- 13 Oct 20:00 First VarietyLC Peacock Sets ‘Assassins’ Competition Show Based on Popular School Game; Scarlett Johansson to Produce
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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