Issa Rae is stepping into her next Hollywood era with a major studio move that signals long-term vision, not just a quick win.
The creator, actor, and producer has officially signed a three-year first-look film and television producing deal with Paramount Pictures, with the agreement kicking off this month. The deal positions Rae to develop projects across both film and television while working closely with Paramount’s top creative leadership.
Before this move, Rae spent several years at WarnerMedia under an eight-figure overall deal.
During that time, she helped bring projects like “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Rap Sh!t,” and “Sweet Life” to the screen, building a track record of culturally specific storytelling that still connected with mainstream audiences.
“I’m so looking forward to starting this next chapter with the incredible team at Paramount to tell stories for and by the diverse communities that have supported my work over the years,” Rae said in a statement.
At Paramount, Rae will collaborate with co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, along with Paramount Television Studios president Matt Thunell and Motion Picture Group president Don Granger.
In a joint statement, Goldberg and Greenstein praised Rae’s creative instincts, calling her work “fresh, funny, and deeply human,” and noting that she represents the kind of artist the studio wants to build with across film and TV.
Rae first broke through as the creator and star of Insecure, the acclaimed HBO series that earned multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Through her company Hoorae, she has continued to champion boundary-pushing stories across television, film, and digital platforms, including projects like “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl,” “Rap Sh!t,” and the recent theatrical hit “One of Them Days.”
As an actor, Rae’s recent credits include “American Fiction,” “Barbie,” and voice work in Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” franchise.
Her Paramount deal also lands as the studio ramps up its talent roster following its merger with Skydance, signaling that Rae is central to its next creative chapter.
