Amazon greenlights further original series
February 18, 2015
By Colin Mann
An intriguing tale about alternative history, a twisted story of friendship put to the ultimate test, a docu-series based on America’s most award-winning magazine, a kids series based on magic and another about being stinky and dirty—all coming exclusively to online video streaming service Amazon Prime Instant Video.
Amazon has greenlit five new Amazon Original Series, including The Man in the High Castle, which is based on the Philip K. Dick alternative history novel; an hour-long dark comedy Mad Dogs; docu-series The New Yorker Presents; along with kids shows Just Add Magic, and The Stinky & Dirty Show.
The new Amazon Original Series come from an acclaimed creative roster including Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files), Ridley Scott (Blade Runner), Cris Cole (The Good Times Are Killing Me), Shawn Ryan (The Shield), Alex Gibney (The Armstrong Lie), Joe Nussbaum (George Lucas in Love, Awkward), and Kate & Jim McMullan (I’m Dirty!). These new shows will premiere exclusively to Prime members in the UK, Germany and US later this year and in 2016.
As part of its development process, Amazon gives customers an opportunity to provide feedback on which pilots they want turned into series that are then available to Prime members. During pilot season, any Amazon customer in the UK, Germany and US can watch, rate and comment on the pilots. At the end of pilot season, that feedback helps determine the shows that become an Amazon Original Series. To date, customers have helped Amazon greenlight 13 series including the multi Golden Globe-winning show Transparent, which will return for a second season later in 2015.
“During the latest pilot season, Amazon customers made The Man in the High Castle our most watched pilot ever,” said Roy Price, Vice President of Amazon Studios. “These new series, including our first docu-series, are some of our most ambitious to date and I’m looking forward to their premieres in the future.”
Amazon Original Series are available for Prime members to stream and enjoy through Prime Instant Video on more than 400 devices, including Fire tablets, iPad, iPhone, Xbox, PlayStation, Wii and Wii U, among others, and online at www.amazon.co.uk/PIV. This content is accessible both on-the-go and from the comfort of customers’ homes, through Amazon Fire Phone and on Amazon Fire TV.
Separately, Amazon confirmed that it had greenlit a second season of hit dramatic comedy, Mozart in the Jungle which will premiere early next year exclusively on Amazon Prime Instant Video.
A huge hit with Amazon customers, the first season of Mozart in the Jungle is based on the critically acclaimed memoir Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs & Classical Music by Blair Tindall.