EXCLUSIVE: David Grutman, who opened the LIV nightclub in Miami and owns a slew of clubs and restaurants, is doubling down on the television business.
Grutman and his DGN Studios banner has signed an overall deal with Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse to develop and produce programming.
The two companies are planning to partner on projects in the entertainment, food, sports and lifestyle spaces. They will also look for new talent and co-invest in brands and IP, particularly in the culinary world.
This comes after Grutman teamed with Fulwell Entertainment on a reality series starring Dancing with the Stars finalist and Miami-based influencer Alix Earle that landed at Netflix.
Grutman, who is repped by WME, is exec producing that series with Evan Rosenfeld via their DGN Studios company, which previously had a first-look deal with Peter Berg’s Film 45. Grutman and Rosenfeld, who was previously showrunner of Vice World of Sports, launched the company in 2023.
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Grutman, who founded Groot Hospitality, which owns restaurants including Papi Steak and co-owns tennis brand Prince, also has a book coming out in April with a foreword by Kim Kardashian.
Wheelhouse operates production companies including Wheelhouse Studios, Spoke Studios, Campfire Studios, Butternut and Twist, which are being series and docus such as Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, America’s Sweethearts and Calabasas Confidential and has deal with stars such as NBA player Anthony Edwards, tennis star Ben Shelton and chef David Chang.
“Wheelhouse as a company really understands my space and the stories I’m trying to tell, while giving DGN the infrastructure to scale and go bigger,” said Grutman. “I’m thrilled to be working with Brent Montgomery and Jessica Zalkind at Wheelhouse and can’t wait to announce new projects soon.”
Jessica Zalkind, Wheelhouse’s EVP, talent and development added, “David is remarkable; he’s a true magnet for the most creative, gifted and successful people. He has authentically cultivated an extraordinary network of collaborators who trust him implicitly to tell their stories, and we see him as a perfect partner for Wheelhouse.”
Wheelhouse CEO Brent Montgomery said, “Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, and David has taken some of the biggest swings in some of the riskiest arenas, culinary and nightlife among them. Those spaces demand impeccable quality, instinct and the ability to create environments everyone wants to be a part of. David embodies that rare combination and we’re eager to build something unique together.”