“Apple is making an official entry into the scripted series arena under Jamie Erlicht & Zack Van Amburg, heads of the recently formed worldwide video programming division,” Nellie Andreeva reports for Deadline. “In a competitive situation, with multiple networks pursuing, Apple has landed the hot morning show drama series project, executive produced by and starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, with a two-season, straight-to-series order. It is one of the first two original scripted series at Apple, along with Amazing Stories, a reimagining of the anthology from Steven Spielberg and Bryan Fuller, which has closed a deal for a straight-to-series order.”
“Apple is believed to be employing a model similar to Netflix’s, with straight-to-series orders and premiums over cost, which vary from show to show. Coincidentally, Netflix also made a splash in the original scripted series space by outbidding traditional networks with a two-season straight-to-series order for a hotly pursued drama package that had a big star attached, House of Cards,” Andreeva reports. “The morning show series, which will produce 10 episodes a season, comes from studio Media Res, with founder Michael Ellenberg also executive producing. Based on an original idea by Ellenberg, the series is written and executive produced by Jay Carson (House of Cards), who will serve as showrunner.”
“Reimagining the original anthology, Amazing Stories, executive produced by Spielberg in partnership with Bryan Fuller, ‘will transport the audience to worlds of wonder through the lens of today’s most imaginative filmmakers, directors and writers,'” Andreeva reports. “In addition to Spielberg and Fuller, Amazing Stories is executive produced by Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey and Hart Hanson; and produced by Universal Television and Amblin Television.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Even though the original run of Amazing Stories was nominated for 12 Emmy Awards and won five, we always felt it never fully lived up to its promise. Hopefully, the reboot and the technological advancements that have come to pas since 1987 will allow Spielberg to tell truly Amazing Stories for Apple.
The Aniston-Witherspoon vehicle is based on a book by CNN reporter Brian Stelter, Top of the Morning. Stelter is a consultant on the project and his book will provide background material.
Good luck to both of Apple’s new series!
SEE ALSO:
Apple outbids Netflix for show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon – November 8, 2017
Apple eyes iconic studio as base for Hollywood production push; vying with Netflix for high-profile Jennifer Aniston drama – September 1, 2017
The magic and misdirection of Apple’s streaming strategy – August 18, 2017
Apple wants to spend $1 billion on 10 original TV shows over the next year – August 16, 2017
Former WGN America president Matt Cherniss joins Apple in latest TV push – August 15, 2017
Rivals leaving Apple behind as Apple TV remains stuck in a test pattern – August 8, 2017
Apple’s so-called TV ‘strategy’ continues to be an embarrassing joke – June 30, 2017
Apple poaches Sony TV executives to lead major push into original content – June 16, 2017
Apple’s Eddy Cue alienated cable providers and networks with an assertive negotiating style – report – July 28, 2016
Utter waste of money!
… said someone equally qualified in 2002, when Jobs announced the iPod (Apple is a computer company, this stupid device is an unnecessary distraction and waste of engineering effort!), and then again when Jobs announced the iPhone in 2007 (it may please zealots, but it is a wasted effort).
There is no chance Apple will survive into the 21st century making only iPhones and Macs. Both categories will become extinct well before. Exploring other markets where they may have potential, but never had presence, is what smart companies do to survive.
30 years ago, IBM was a PC company. They have long stopped making PCs.
Companies that know how to pivot survive.
See Sony the former great hardware company, that went south trying to please in house content people, if Apple wanted content that made sense they should have bought PIXAR, by far the best content company they could have picked up. Hollywood loves dumb newbies with lots of money to spend…..Cueless are you out there?
As a content studio, Sony is now one of the five major studios. Apple could certainly do worse.
Sony continues to make great hardware and majority of professional TV outlets continue to use their gear.
As for Pixar, it was quite obvious that Jobs preferred Disney as the prospective owner (and as soon as Eisner was gone, the deal closed). At the time, he didn’t want the distraction of a content company, when there was still plenty of good hardware to be made by Apple.
There will be plenty of good hardware to be made for quite a few years, but Apple could use diversification, especially with several people talking about “one-trick pony”…
Apple is the most diversified Tech company, that makes a profit out there, despite what the current Tech press and their Geek minions say.
content is low margin compared to Apple and will always be so.
Together again… They played sisters in the TV show “Friends”
Is this going to be within Apple ‘Music’?
iTunes, Apple Music, so convoluted and messy right now…