CitizenSkull Strikes First-Look Deal With iHeart With Focus On Sci-Fi, Horror IP.

CitizenSkull has entered into a multi-year first-look development deal with iHeartMedia on all its film, television and audio projects. The companies say their partnership establishes an ongoing, multi-project relationship focused on developing and producing scripted audio content, with a focus on sci-fi and horror, and an emphasis on franchise-ready intellectual property (IP).

“The deal underscores iHeartMedia’s continued commitment to high-end scripted audio, aligning with top-tier creative talent to develop original IP with multiplatform franchise potential,” Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts, said in the joint announcement.

The first project under the deal will be “Prodigal,” a sci-fi thriller created and written by bestselling comic book duo Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly. It is set to be released this fall. The pair are known for their earlier work across Marvel and DC, where they have written titles including Batman Beyond, Captain America, and Kang the Conqueror, building a reputation for high-concept, character-driven storytelling.

“We built this partnership with iHeart to create elevated genre storytelling that doesn’t just live in audio, but has the potential to expand across platforms,” said CitizenSkull producer Sean M. Butler. “‘Prodigal’ is exactly the type of bold, high-concept IP we want to bring to market — grounded in character but designed to scale.”

The “Prodigal” series will be showrun by Kevin Arbouet, whose work spans film, television, and audio. Executive producing for CitizenSkull are Sean M. Butler and Mark Myers, with Butler also serving as Producer. Paul Yurick of The Future Party co-produces alongside Butler, and Boye Akolade serves as co-executive producer.

Butler has established a track record in audio and franchise-driven storytelling, having developed, sold and served as Executive Producer on the first iteration of the hit sports podcast “All The Smoke,” which was sold to Showtime, and serving as Executive Producer and Producer on Audible’s “Move: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy.”