Former HBO and Televisa exec takes Route One

Former Televisa and HBO executive Michael Garcia has inked a first-look deal with Route One Entertainment, and will work up TV and movie projects for the LA-based film finance group.

Garcia will bring projects to Route One for packaging and development.

As VP of entertainment at HBO, Michael Garcia worked on shows including The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire and The Wire. He was then consulting for Televisa and Lionsgate before becoming chief creative officer at Televisa USA.

Since leaving Televisa he has been running his own prodco, Blackbees Television Company, and exec producing series including upcoming Netflix original One Day at a Time.

Under the terms of the Route One deal, he will work into CEO Russell Levine, who said: “We are incredibly happy to have Michael join our team as our television productions pick up speed. We are excited to accelerate even further into the television space with him leading the way.”

Garcia, whose credits include Lifetime series Devious Maids and ABC Family show Chasing Life, said: “Route One is an exciting and dynamic film finance and production company, working with an impressive roster of A-list talent on the films they produce.

“In this time of high-end, premium television programming, these are exactly the types of writers and filmmakers we will be working with on series, as we extend the Route One brand into TV.”

Route One is moving into TV having previously been known for films. Recent features include Matthew McConaughey movie Free State of Jones and Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis title Colossal.