Amazon nabs Woody Allen for new streaming series
Fresh off its win at the Golden Globe awards on Sunday, Amazon’s (AMZN) nascent television production studio got another boost Tuesday, nabbing famed director Woody Allen to create a new series.
Allen, who has won four Oscars for his films, will write and direct an as-yet untitled half-hour series that will premiere exclusively online via Amazon’s Prime Instant Streaming service, the company said in a press release.
Ever the comedian, Allen said he had no idea what the new show would be about yet. “I don’t know how I got into this,” he said in the release. “I have no ideas and I’m not sure where to begin.”
Amazon has been following in the footsteps of streaming rivals Netflix (NFLX) and Hulu in creating original series. While Amazon nabbed a Golden Globe award for its recent comedy "Transparent," starring Jeffrey Tambor as the transgender lead character, Netflix has piled up several Golden Globes and Emmys for its series, including "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black."
All three companies are moving onto the ground still dominated by premium cable networks, particularly Time Warner’s (TWC) HBO. Hollywood’s top talent once looked down on the Internet-only streaming services, but a growing list of awards, the promise of greater creative freedom – and hefty investments – have convinced many to sign on.
Exclusive content has been a big draw for the streaming services, as it has been for pay-cable channels for decades. Netflix added two million U.S. subscribers in the first quarter of 2013, after it debuted "House of Cards." Amazon hadn’t had a breakthrough hit until "Transparent" debuted last year. It recently debuted a new series, "Mozart in the Jungle," and a second season of the political satire "Alpha House," created by Garry Trudeau.
Amazon said the new Allen-written show would run exclusively on its Prime streaming service in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. But additional details, including the air dates and cast of the new show were not announced. Amazon hasn't disclosed exactly how many customers have signed up for the $99-per-year Prime service, which also includes free delivery on all orders, but has said it has tens of millions of subscribers. Subscribers can watch on smartphones and computers, as well as on their television sets via set top boxes such as Apple TV, Roku or Tivo.
Woody Allen got his start in television in the 1950s, working as a writer on the "Ed Sullivan Show," the "Tonight Show" and other comedy programs. In the 1960s, he began writing and directing films. In 1977, his film "Annie Hall" won Oscars for best picture, while Allen won for best original screenplay and best director.
More recently, Allen’s 2013 film, "Blue Jasmine," was nominated for three Academy Awards, including best original screenplay, winning one for best actress Cate Blanchett.
But not all of Allen’s films have won critical praise. Last year’s offering, "Magic in the Moonlight," brought in less than $11 million at the box office and was panned by about half of the critics who reviewed it, according to the site Rottentomatoes.com
Despite Allen’s lengthy resume of critically acclaimed movies, the selection may engender SOME controversy. Dylan Farrow, Allen’s adopted daughter, claimed in a 2013 interview that the famed director molested her as a child. Allen has denied the charges.
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