Apple has already become one of the most powerful forces in the world of technology, including innovating the way entertainment is consumed. Now it seems the giant wants to get into the field of creating entertainment and has signed an agreement with Steven Spielberg to produce new original scripted content. Included among these offerings is a remake of the anthology series ‘Amazing Stories’ which Spielberg originally created in the mid-1980s. The new series consists of 10 episodes and will be created in association with NBCUniversal, who own the rights to the original series. Bryan Fuller has also been attached to this project for a while, without the ultimate venue being revealed.
In June, Apple hired Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht to spearhead content acquisitions and video strategy. The pair, with development chief Matt Cherniss, will look into viable properties, but they have stressed repeatedly that Apple is not looking to compete with Netflix which spends roughly $6 billion a year on development. Apple, despite having the money, only looks to spend roughly $1 billion a year. They are said to be eyeing a big splashy drama to kick things off, citing ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘The Crown’ as examples. In fact, ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ creator Vince Gilligan is said to have been asked to pitch, along with Ron D. Moore, executive producer of ‘Outlander’ and ‘Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams’ as well as being a veteran of various ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Battlestar Galactica’ series.
NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke said in a statement:
“It’s wonderful to be reunited with our colleagues Zack and Jamie in their new capacity at Apple. We love being at the forefront of Apple’s investment in scripted programming, and can’t think of a better property than Spielberg’s beloved Amazing Stories franchise with the genius of Bryan Fuller at the helm and more exciting creative partnerships to come.”
Apple had previously bid on two other projects, which ended up going to Netflix– ‘Ratched’ based on ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and an untitled Jennifer Aniston/Reese Witherspoon drama series.
Guess we’ll have to wait and see how Apple’s foray into original scripted programming will pan out! More details as they emerge.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
