Fast on the heels of the recent deal with producer Chris Wedge, Twentieth Century Fox Features has signed a multi-year exclusive deal with ICE AGE producer Lori Forte. Forte is developing several animated features for Fox and will serve as producer on a potential ICE AGE sequel. "Lori is a spectacular producer and a critical part of the future that we are building with Blue Sky," said Chris Meledandri, president of 20th Century Fox Animation, who announced Forte's deal. ICE Age is nominated for the Best Animated Feature film Academy Award. Forte joined Fox Animation Studios in 1996 as a producer after working as a creative exec on TOY STORY and RUNAWAY BRAIN at Walt Disney Feature Animation. Forte came from a television background as a development exec at the NBC network where she developed such shows as DEAR JOHN and EMPTY NEST. She was also VP of comedy development for Columbia Pictures Television responsible for a variety of pilots and series including PARKER LEWIS CAN'T LOSE, MARRIED PEOPLE and LIVING DOLLS. Forte's deal with Fox was brokered by Nancy Newhouse-Porter of NPH Law.
