Moviefone Editorial

Tag: amazon

  • ‘Broad City’ Star Ilana Glazer Bringing Stand-Up Special to Amazon

    ‘Broad City’ Star Ilana Glazer Bringing Stand-Up Special to Amazon

    Comedy Central

    Celebrated Comedy Central series “Broad City” may have ended earlier this year, but star Ilana Glazer is staying in the spotlight: The comedian is about to film her first stand-up special, which is slated to air on Amazon Prime.

    Glazer announced the triumphant news herself in an Instagram post on Tuesday, telling fans she was “vibrating with excitement” about the opportunity.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Byk_zuyFAK7/

    The comedian is about to wrap her eight-city “The Planet Is Burning” stand-up tour, and the last stop — scheduled for Wednesday night in Houston, Texas at the White Oak Music Hall — will be recorded for the special (which will also be called “The Planet Is Burning”). Glazer’s announcement included a video clip highlighting some of what fans can expect from the one-hour production, and there’s plenty of the star’s signature zany energy on display.

    While we’re a little bummed that there doesn’t appear to be any cameo from Glazer’s “Broad City” co-creator and co-star, Abbi Jacobson, we’re plenty excited to see more from Glazer. The comedian is also executive producing the special.

    No word yet on when it’s set to premiere. We’ll be eagerly awaiting additional info.

    [h/t TVLine]

  • Sandra Bullock Making ’80s Amazon Series Inspired by Her College Years

    Sandra Bullock Making ’80s Amazon Series Inspired by Her College Years

    Warner Bros.

    Though she’s best known for her scene-stealing work in front of the camera, Sandra Bullock has had plenty of success behind it, too, producing a string of hit films including her star vehicles “Miss Congeniality,” “The Proposal,” and Netflix’s buzzy “Bird Box.” Now, Bullock is set to produce once again, this time on a new project that’s inspired by her own life.

    According to Deadline, the actress is developing a TV series for Amazon that’s loosely based on her experiences in college in North Carolina in the 1980s. The dramedy, set in the world of music and dance, will be co-executive produced by Bullock, alongside fellow A-list Oscar winners John Legend and Akiva Goldsman.

    Here’s a breakdown of the as-yet-untitled series, per Deadline:

    ” … the show is described as a hilarious, boundary-crossing, and often soul-wrenching trek through the oppressive cultural norms of the deep south in the 1980s, where one darkly off-beat young woman defies expectations and sets out in search of love, community, and most importantly, an identity of her own. It’s a fantastical, dance-filled journey, traversing the worlds of drag-culture, mental health, and the AIDS epidemic, all while following a group of young outcasts who band together and dare to be themselves, despite the very real danger they face in doing so. It’s a vivid, fun, gut-punch of a story about letting go of shame and living out loud… and some of it’s even true.”

    Longtime friends Bullock and Goldsman, who previously collaborated on the films “A Time To Kill” and “Practical Magic,” conceived of the idea for the show together. It was created and written by K.C. Perry (“Constance,” “The Originals”).

    Deadline reports that Goldsman specifically sought out Legend to both help develop the series, and shape its unique soundtrack, which will feature an “ambitious fusion of multiple genres of music from the period, including 80’s pop, timeless Southern gospel, and opera.” Based on that unlikely combination, we’re already intrigued.

    No word yet on how many episodes are expected, or a production or release timeframe. Stay tuned.

    [via: Deadline]

  • ‘Transparent’ Series Finale Teaser Trailer Reveals Musical Farewell

    ‘Transparent’ Series Finale Teaser Trailer Reveals Musical Farewell

    Amazon

    “Maura’s dead.”

    The first teaser trailer for the musical series finale of “Transparent” opens with the passing of Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) and follows the reactions of her family — ex-wife Shelly (Judith Light) and their children (Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Landecker and Jay Duplass).

    Jill Soloway’s groundbreaking dramedy is ending after four seasons without Emmy-winning star Tambor, who was fired last year over sexual misconduct allegations.

    The loss sets off “a journey hilarious and melancholy, brazen and bold. As they face this new transition, they confront grief and come together to celebrate connection, joy, and transformation.”

    Shelly confronts her grief by breaking into songs like “Your Boundary Is My Trigger.” The musical will feature other cast members in song-and-dance numbers as well.

    Creator Soloway and sister/executive producer Faith Solowy said, “When the time came to bring the ‘Transparent’ journey to a close, it was clear that saying goodbye to Maura was our path forward. In this musical finale, we dramatize the death of Maura in an odyssey of comedy and melancholy told through the joyful prism of melody and dance.”

    They continued, “As we reflect on the process we began so many years ago to bring Maura Pfefferman to the screen, we hope this tribute to the meaning her story brought to the public consciousness also marks a moment in time where art-makers recognize the importance of trans actors playing trans characters. Everything changes, and we are grateful to make art that will live on as a bridge from this era to the next. As the world transforms, so does the Pfefferman family. ‘Transparent’ is not ending, it is transitioning into a musical, becoming itself over and over again.”

  • ‘Carnival Row’ Teaser: See Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne in Neo-Noir Fantasy Series

    ‘Carnival Row’ Teaser: See Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne in Neo-Noir Fantasy Series

    Carnival Row teaser still
    Amazon Prime Video/YouTube

    Amazon’s Victorian fantasy series starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne arrives in August, and in the meantime, the official “Carnival Row” teaser is here.

    The video debuted Monday, and it introduces the world in which their characters live. There are humans and faeries living alongside each other, but the humans fear the faeries and have forbidden them to live, love, or fly with freedom. In the midst of all that, there is a string of mysterious murders in the city.

    Bloom portrays Rycroft Philostrate, a human detective, while Delevingne’s character is a faerie named Vignette Stonemoss. The two explain the tense situation in the teaser, describing “a rift in the city” and the threat of “something inhuman.” It seems the humans and faeries may have to band together. Watch below.

    “Carnival Row” comes from René Echevarria and Travis Beacham and is set for eight episodes. The series will premiere Aug. 30 on Amazon Prime Video.

  • Amazon’s ‘Good People’ Adds Martin Short to Talented Cast

    Amazon’s ‘Good People’ Adds Martin Short to Talented Cast

    Martin Short in Inherent Vice
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Amazon’s upcoming comedy pilot “Good People” just keeps adding good actors.

    Comedian Martin Short has boarded the project from Lee Daniels and Whitney Cummings, THR reports. He joins a cast the already includes the likes of Lisa Kudrow and Greg Kinnear. Cummings, too, has a role.

    The potential series centers on three generations of women working in a college ombudsman’s office, meaning they look into complaints against maladministration. As they do so, they’ll navigate today’s cultural climate, dealing with issues such as sex, race, class, and gender, per Amazon. They’ll also contend with different understandings of feminism across generations.

    Short’s character is one who will have plenty of dealings with the ombudsman’s office. He’ll play the university’s dean, an administrator described as having “no concept of what’s appropriate.” He, as well as Kinnear’s philosophy professor character, will cause trouble for the woman who heads the office (Kudrow).

    Short is well-known for his work as a comedian, including on “Saturday Night Live.” He recently did a comedy special for Netflix with Steve Martin, “Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life.” Meanwhile, his most recent film is the 2014 neo-noir “Inherent Vice,” and he has continued to have guest spots on various TV shows.

    Daniels and Cummings co-wrote the pilot for “Good People,” and Daniels will direct. The two are executive producing alongside Kudrow.

    [via: THR]

  • Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Just Hired This ‘Game of Thrones’ Writer/Producer

    Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Just Hired This ‘Game of Thrones’ Writer/Producer

    New Line

    If you’re a diehard “Game of Thrones” fan, you already know Bryan Cogman, a writer and producer on the Emmy-winning series who’s penned some of the show’s favorite episodes.

    Now Cogman has been officially hired to consult on Amazon’s upcoming “Lord of the Rings” television series.  And he’s also writing a live-action remake of Disney classic “The Sword in the Stone” for Disney+.  (Wild guess how many swords he owns in real life?)

    Cogman got his start on “Thrones” as assistant to the show’s showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. He was credited as the screenwriter for 11 episodes, including “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” widely praised as one of the best “GoT” episodes ever.

    He has three Emmys (along with the rest of the show’s producers) for  “Game of Thrones’ three Best Drama Series wins.

    No specific details or cast has yet been announced for the “Lord of the Rings,” series although Amazon has dismissed the rumor that it will be about young Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy).

    Best guess now is that the series will follow Sauron as he rises to power. So we’re expecting lots of battles and betrayals.

    We also don’t have a production start date for the production, which is estimated to have a $1 billion budget.

    [Via IndieWire, Variety]

  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt Thriller ‘7500’ Sells to Amazon at Cannes

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt Thriller ‘7500’ Sells to Amazon at Cannes

    Sony Pictures Entertainment

    It’s been a busy day for big deals at the Cannes Film Festival, with a new thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt the latest title to get snapped up for distribution.

    Deadline reports that “7500,” in which Gordon-Levitt plays the co-pilot of a plane that is hijacked by terrorists, is set to take flight at Amazon Studios, following bids from multiple potential buyers. The flick marks the feature directorial debut of Patrick Vollrath, who received an Oscar nomination for his live action short film “Everything Will Be Okay.” Vollrath is also writing the script for “7500.”

    The production is the latest of several high-profile films hailing from Germany to make big deals at Cannes this year. Terrence Malick‘s “A Hidden Life,” shot in both English and German, secured an eight-figure payday for its distribution rights.

    Amazon has also had a busy time at Cannes, with the burgeoning film powerhouse previously picking up the rights to “Les Miserables,” a buzzy French film set in the same Parisian neighborhood in which Victor Hugo set his classic novel. This story is based on director Ladj Ly’s Cesar-nominated short of the same name, which was inspired by the 2005 riots in the French capital.

    Stay tuned to see when Amazon releases “7500.”

    [via: Deadline]

  • Amazon Acquires ‘Les Misérables’ by Director Ladj Ly at Cannes

    Courtesy: Cannes Film Festival

    “Les Misérables” has the Cannes Film Festival buzzing — and Amazon Studios opening its wallet.

    Amazon has acquired the U.S. rights to writer-director Ladj Ly’s feature debut in one of the biggest domestic deals ever for a French-language movie, around $1-2 million.

    The film is inspired by the 2005 Paris riots and Ly’s César-nominated short film of the same name, and is a provocative look into the tensions between neighborhood residents and police.

    The story on centers on Stéphane (Damien Bonnard), who has recently joined the anti-crime brigade in Montfermeil, the Paris suburb where Victor Hugo set his classic novel “Les Misérables.”

    Stéphane soon discovers tensions are running high between local gangs. When he and two friends find themselves overrun during the course of an arrest, a drone captures the encounter, threatening to expose the reality of everyday life.

    Ly is a native of Montfermeil, and after the 2005 riots, filmed the neighborhood for a year to make a documentary titled “365 Days In Clichy-Montfermeil.”

  • Fans, Cast Are Ticked Off After Amazon Cancels ‘The Tick’

    Fans, Cast Are Ticked Off After Amazon Cancels ‘The Tick’

    Amazon

    “#SaveTheTick” is trending on Twitter after Amazon decided to pull the plug on the superhero comedy after two seasons.

    Series creator Ben Edlund tweeted shared the bad news today, saying, “I’m sorry to say Amazon has chosen not to proceed with [‘The Tick’]. I’m not sorry to say I love this show, its cast, its story, and its message. Destiny demands that my compatriots and I now seek a new home for this series.”

    Meanwhile,  Griffin Newman, who plays winged sidekick Arthur Everest to Peter Serefinowicz’s Tick, believes the show is still “very much alive!”

    He tweeted: “Our show is very much still alive at this moment!” We’re all still under contract, and actively trying to find a new place to keep the show going! Fan demand is really what has the power to push us over the edge right now, so please be loud! It’s time to #SaveTheTick!”

    https://twitter.com/GriffLightning/status/1129094033492647937

    That got the hashtag trending, with one fan going so far as to duct-tape his hat to his head.

    https://twitter.com/cali_beachbumb/status/1129166957545181186

    https://twitter.com/AdrianG43152781/status/1129157420570353664

    Even the awesome new Keanu Reeves gif from “Always Be My Maybe” wants you to #SaveTheTick.

    https://twitter.com/MagnaFarta/status/1129091556424724481

    If this is all too familiar to “Tick,” fans, Patrick Warburton starred in the 2001 Fox version, which only lasted 9 episodes.

    [Via Deadline, EW]

  • Woody Allen’s ‘A Rainy Day in New York’ Will Get Overseas Release

    Woody Allen’s ‘A Rainy Day in New York’ Will Get Overseas Release

    Woody Allen in Crisis in Six Scenes
    Amazon Studios

    Woody Allen’s “A Rainy Day in New York,” which was shelved by Amazon Studios, will be released in Italy and possibly other European countries.

    Amazon cut ties with Allen after the rise of the #MeToo movement and revived reports that Allen had molested his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow.

    The company had made a deal with Allen to release his next four films, of which “Rainy Day” was the first. The movie tells the story of a omance between a middle-aged man (Jude Law) and a young woman (Elle Fanning).

    However, Amazon returned the film to Allen and attempted to cut ties with the director. In response, Allen is suing Amazon for breach of contract.

    Italian distributor Lucky Red is set to release “Rainy Day” in Italy on October 3. It is also likely to be distributed in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.