Tracee Ellis Ross and her production company, Joy Mill Entertainment, have secured a multi-year partnership with Fox Entertainment Studios. The deal includes a first-look agreement for scripted content and an overall deal for unscripted projects. This collaboration aims to develop a range of comedy, drama, animation, and reality formats.
Tracee Ellis Ross, acclaimed for her roles in long-running sitcoms, has expanded her production endeavors through a new multi-year deal at Fox Entertainment Studios. Announced on January 6, 2026, the agreement pairs Ross's Joy Mill Entertainment with the studio for a first-look deal on scripted content, covering comedy, drama, and animation. Additionally, it encompasses an overall deal for unscripted and reality programming.
Adriana Ambriz remains in her position as head of development at Joy Mill, a role she has held since 2020. Ross brings a wealth of experience to the partnership, having starred as Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the ABC sitcom "Black-ish," which aired for eight seasons from 2014 to 2022. Earlier, she portrayed Joan Carol Clayton in the comedy "Girlfriends," which ran for eight seasons on UPN and later The CW.
Her recent projects highlight her versatility. Ross starred in and executive produced the 2020 film "The High Note," appeared in the 2023 movie "American Fiction," and featured in the Season 7 episode "Common People" of "Black Mirror." In 2022, she created the docuseries "The Hair Tales" for Hulu and the Oprah Winfrey Network, exploring the history and cultural significance of Black hair. Ross also founded the hair care brand Pattern Beauty.
Hannah Pillemer, head of scripted content at Fox Entertainment Studios, and Allison Wallach, head of unscripted, praised Ross's contributions: "Tracee is a singular force, creative, purposeful and culturally undeniable. Her instincts, curiosity and drive make her an exceptionally creative and prolific partner. We’re excited to team up with Tracee and Joy Mill Entertainment to create work that inspires, entertains and reflects the world through their distinctly authentic lens."
Ross expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: "Joining the Fox Entertainment Studios family marks an exciting next chapter for Joy Mill Entertainment. At Joy Mill, our focus is in creating and producing entertaining, culture-bending stories centered around identity and joy, and from our earliest conversations with Fox, it was clear that they shared the same vision. I’m excited to collaborate with Hannah, Allison, Fernando Szew, Tomii Crump and their incredible teams as we continue to expand our platform."
Ross is represented by Artists First, UTA, Origin Public Relations, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller. This deal positions Joy Mill to broaden its slate under Fox's umbrella, potentially bringing fresh perspectives to television audiences.
