Christina Richardson’s hit vertical series Besties is among the projects in a major slate expansion from Fox Entertainment’s creator studio, formed earlier this year. After two successful independently produced seasons, Fox Creator Studios will now produce Seasons 3 and 4 of the scripted series, which follows a group of friends navigating relationships, identity, ambition and the challenges of adulthood.
Richardson’s project is part of a broader expansion that adds seven new creators to a roster that already included Gordon Ramsay and Tom Segura. The new additions, Richardson, Josh Richards, Emelia Hartford, Speeed Co, Sorted Food, MyHealthyDish and Mad Realities, collectively bring more than 65 million followers across platforms.
Unlike similar efforts at rival media companies, Fox Creator Studios is not necessarily aiming to produce more content for Fox-owned distribution channels. Instead, the unit is focused on helping creators develop premium intellectual property and expand into new formats by tapping into Fox’s ad sales, brand partnerships, global distribution and production infrastructure.
“I’ve been working in the creative economy, both as an investor and as a programmer, and working with brands for north of 15 years,” said Billy Parks, executive vice president and head of Fox Creator Studios. “All of us at Fox think that there is a real ecosystem these creators are building on their own channels, and we love that they’re doubling down on that. Wanting to grow them, that’s the focus for us.”
The full lineup of creator-led projects includes:
Christina Richardson’s “Besties” – Fox Creator Studios will produce Seasons 3 and 4 of the scripted vertical series, created and directed by Richardson.
Josh Richards’ “Read the Room” – Fox Creator Studios will co-produce Seasons 2 and 3 of the sketch series, alongside Richards’ production company CrossCheck Studios and business partner Chris Sawtelle. Season 1 secured over 60 million views in four weeks. Season 2 premieres in August.
Emelia Hartford’s “Hot Laps” – The automotive and motorsports creator will helm a celebrity interview show pairing high-speed track driving with candid conversations, produced alongside her company Running Lean Productions and Justin Killion of Bright Bay.
Speeed Co’s “Then vs. Now” – An educational series comparing products, experiences and cultural habits across generations, featuring and produced by James Pumphrey, Zach Redpath and Jesse Wood.
Sorted Food’s “In Bad Taste” – A comedy food entertainment show turning a dinner party into a game of deception, led by Jamie Spafford, Barry Taylor, Mike Huttlestone and Ben Ebbrell. It is the first Fox Creator Studios project in production.
MyHealthyDish’s “My Daughters: Cooked” – A family cooking series following creator My Nguyen as she teaches her twin teenage daughters to cook before they leave for college, produced by Emmy winner Mike Duffy of YumCrunch.
Mad Realities’ “The Love Pitch” and “Picky Eaters” – Two series from Alice Ma’s Mad Realities, including a fast-paced dating competition and a culinary competition show hosted by Mehreen Karim.
“Fox Creator Studios was built around a simple idea: the most exciting entertainment businesses today are being built directly around audience relationships,” Parks said. “We’re partnering with creators who already understand their audience, already have momentum, and are building real businesses around their ideas. Our role is to help scale what’s already working, whether that’s through production, financing, advertising, distribution, brand partnerships or new formats, and help these creators build the next generation of global entertainment brands.”