Lost creator JJ Abrams has signed a new deal with Warner Bros. TV, leaving Touchstone Television after almost a decade with the Disney-owned company.

The surprise move - worth a reported $55 million over six years - will see Abrams develop new TV projects for Warner Bros. with his production company Bad Robot. He will, however, continue to serve as executive producer on Lost, What About Brian and the new drama series Six Degrees.

Meanwhile, Abrams and Bad Robot have signed a five-year film deal with Paramount. Recently he directed Mission: Impossible III for the studio and is currently working on the eleventh movie in the Star Trek franchise.