Nickelodeon will team with Awesomeness Films and LeBron James’ SpringHill Company to produce a new original film, Fantasy Football, the companies said Monday.

The film, produced by and starring Marsai Martin (Black-ish), follows a 15-year old girl who discovers she can control her pro football player dad’s prowess on the field through her video game, said Nickelodeon.

SpringHill and Martin's Genius Entertainment will serve as executive producers of the film, which will debut on Paramount Plus in 2022.

Also slated to debut next year on the streaming service is Nickelodeon and Awesomeness Films’ Hush Hush, a film adaptation of the young adult novels written by Becca Fitzpatrick. The films follows a 16-year old high school student who falls for a new student and unwittingly get caught in the crosshairs of an ancient battle between fallen angels and the immortal, said Nick. 

Nickelodeon and Awesomeness Films Studio head Syrinthia Studer said in making the announcement:  “With the continuing growth of Nickelodeon and Awesomeness’s live-action film studio business, we are curating a slate of aspirational, heartfelt films for everyone. From the fantasy and romance themes found in Hush Hush, to the love of sport and family captured in Fantasy Football, we can’t wait to entertain audiences everywhere with new YA and family stories about what they already love.”

Disney Channel’s latest original movie, Zombies, drew 2.7 million viewers in its Feb. 16 premiere, the network said Tuesday.

The movie, which follows the exploits of zombie students who transfer to a human, suburban high school, also drew 1.14 million viewers in the kids 6-11 demo and 752,000 viewers among girls 6-11 – the most viewers for any show in both demos since the July 2017 debut of Disney’s Descendants 2 original film, said network officials.

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Zombies also topped NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage among the both kids' demos for the night, said Disney.

Overall, Zombies reached 10.3 million over eight telecasts during the President’s Day weekend.

Disney Channel’s June 24 original movie Adventures In Babysitting posted an audience of 4.8 million viewers whit Nielsen live + 7 viewing, according to network officials.

The movie, Disney’s 100th original movie telecast, increased in L+7 ratings from the 3.4 million viewers the movie generated in its premiere showing, according to Nielsen to become the most watched original film on cable in 2016, said network officials.

Adventures In Babysitting, which was loosely based on the 1980s film of the same name and starred Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) and Sofia Carson (Descendants), also posted double digit increases in key kids demos with L+7 viewing data compared to live + same day data including kids 6-11 (55% increase to 1.9 million viewers), kids 2-11 (54% increase to 2.4 million), and tweens 9-14 (44% to 1.7 million), said Disney.

Overall for its premiere and seven encores, Adventures In Babysitting reached 15 million total viewers, including 7 million kids 6-14, according to Disney.

Disney Channel will launch its milestone 100th original movie on Friday (June 24, with the premiere of Adventures in Babysitting. The ratings success of the Disney Channel’s original movies (or, as the network calls them, DCOMs) — Disney movies represent top four most-watched movies in cable history — have helped define the network’s brand for a generation of viewers, and has helped the programmer court a new, younger generation on both linear and digital platforms.

Disney’s original movies have served as a launchpad for a who’s who of today’s entertainment stars, from singer Demi Lovato (Camp Rock); to actress and talk-show host Raven-Symoné (The Cheetah Girls) and actresssinger Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie). Paul DeBenedittis, senior vice president of programming strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide, spoke to Multichannel News programming editor R. Thomas Umstead about the DCOM franchise and its influence on the Disney Channel brand.

MCN:While most cable networks have built their brand on the backs of reality and scripted content, why did you feel original movies — along with scripted shows — were the best way to reach your audience?

Paul DeBenedittis: Not many networks were doing original movies back then, and frankly not many networks are doing them right now. For us, we treat the movies as mini-tentpoles. They are tentpoles for kids and families and, to some degree, they become part of pop culture for this generation. What we’re experiencing from the DCOM 100th celebration is that the movies are a pop cultural moment for many millennials who came to the channel over the Memorial Day weekend stunt to watch their favorite movies and relive their childhood moments with a sense of warmth and admiration love and affinity. We’re excited that the 100th DCOM at the end of the month is going to continue in that tradition.

MCN:Was there a seminal movie that convinced the network that original movies could serve as that event tentpole that you described?

PD: It feels like every couple of years throughout the DCOM journey there’s been that defining title among the 100 that has just captured the audience’s hearts and souls and became a part of that pop culture. I think Zenon was one many years ago; High School Musical was that one that I think people saw it, loved it and felt the momentum from it. I don’t think anyone predicted it would reach the phenomenal success that it had, but everyone knew there was something really special and magical. Teen Beach [Movie] became that next one, and just last year Descendants became this generation’s key DCOM.

MCN:So what is the secret sauce with regards to Disney’s original movie success?

PD: I would say it’s really special scripts and story, and music plays a key driver in its success. Finally, it’s about talent — you can have all of the previous ingredients, but without talent that captures and drives that story you won’t have that phenomenal success. We found that out in High School Musical, we saw that in Teen Beach, and certainly in Descendants.

MCN:Of all the stars that have appeared in Disney films, who do you think was the biggest star to come out of a DCOM movie?

PD: I would have to say Zac Efron (High School Musical 1 & 2). Zac for us was an iconic actor for that generation of DCOMs and has gone on to wonderful success.

MCN:How has the network used the appeal and reach of the movies to build the network’s brand beyond linear into digital platforms?

PD: As we look at all of our content, we know kids and families choose to consume content in many places, so for us, it’s using our distribution to really access that audience. For us, the movies for the past couple of years have aired on both linear and nonlinear platforms, and currently our movies, such as Adventures in Babysitting, will premiere on our app [a week before the film’s linear debut] so you will have the opportunity to watch that as you choose based on your viewing habits.

We still haven’t reached the threshold of whether or not the digital airings are siphoning off viewers — one might assume there is some level of that — but at the end of the day, we’re looking at overall reach. So if my linear and non-linear still brings me the reach I’m looking for, that’s fine. It’s all about making sure we have the access to the consumer on platforms that they’re choosing.

MCN:How do you see the future of the DCOM franchise and the original movie category in general?

PD: Movies are able to define us, so in the clutter they do stand out. For us, it’s still an important part of the puzzle and our content offerings — not just as premieres but as content that then becomes part of your on-demand experience. For us, movies really are an important ingredient. To continue beyond 100 its about finding great stories that are unique, that tell a relevant story, that audiences can find a piece of themselves in, that have lessons and offer wonderful entertainment value for kids and family.

Hallmark Channel has teamed with Grammy Award-winning recording artist Mariah Carey to produce three original films, the network said Monday.

Carey, who will star in an eight-part E! reality series, will develop, executive produce, direct and co-star in the films, as well as compose and produce and original song for each project, said network officials. The first will launch during Hallmark’s 2017 Countdown to Valentine’s Day programming event.

Hallmark first announced the deal during its Winter TCA Press Tour event in January.

Carey last December directed and co-starred in Hallmark’s original film A Christmas Melody. In addition, Carey also hosted the most watched holiday special in Hallmark Channel history, Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas. Hallmark Channel also sponsored her recent sold-out Christmas concerts last December at New York City’s Beacon Theater.

“We are honored to continue our collaboration with the multi-talented Mariah Carey,” Michelle Vicary, executive vice president of programming, Crown Media Family Networks, said in a statement. “It’s rare to work with a talent who can produce, direct, star and also compose original music for a project, and we know she will deliver for our viewers once again.”

ION Television will premiere a new original movie in February to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The movie, Meet My Valentine, will debut Feb. 6 and stars Scott Wolf (Party Of Five) as husband who after finding out he has months to live rediscovers his love for his wife, played by Courtney Ford (Murder In the First). The movie will have an encore airing on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14).

“We’re excited to extend ION’s original movie offerings beyond the holiday season and expand upon our commitment to fans,” said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO of ION Media Networks in a statement. “ION has established itself as a prime destination for original movies, and Meet My Valentine is a fitting addition to our growing lineup.”