Share This Article
Brian Grazer and Ron Howard
AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.
Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment has switched a first-look deal from Apple TV+ to Amazon Studios.
Imagine’s co-founders Brian Grazer and Ron Howard signed a multi-year deal with Apple in 2021 to produce films for Apple TV+. Apple had also signed a first-look deal that would allow the company to pick up a project before its competitors.
However, Imagine has switched the first-look deal over to Amazon Studios, where it has an action-comedy project in development, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Brian, Ron, and I, along with our entire team at Imagine, including Karen Lunder, President of Imagine Features, and Sara Bernstein, President of Imagine Documentaries, couldn’t be more excited to have a home at Amazon and continue our shared desire to make tentpole films that inspire, elevate, and entertain audiences,” Justin Wilkes, President of Imagine Entertainment, said.
With Amazon as Imagine’s new partner, it will give the company first looks at narrative films and documentaries that Imagine plans to produce. The two had previously collaborated on other content, including “Lucy and Desi,” “Thirteen Lives,” and “Judy Blume Forever.”
Imagine had produced content for Apple TV+ such as “Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong,” a documentary about Louis Armstrong.
Their loss and mistake.
Well that sucks.
Not surprised given Amazon’s broader push into movies: buying MGM, bigger spend on cinema the last few years, and now reports of them moving into actual theatre ownership. They already highlighted plans to release 12-15 movies in theatres annually. Directors & Producers love that kind of thinking.
I can’t wait to buy an Amazon Kindle the next time I am in a movie theatre! /s In all honesty, I am sure they will have a kiosk for Amazon products if they buy out a movie theatre company!
Somebody should tell Mr. Grazer that “styling your hair” does not translate to “give this Van Der Graff generator a big wet kiss.” :lol:
The Oscar’s governing board is considering rules that will force Apple TV+ and Netflix to release more movies for longer runs in theaters — or they won’t even be considered for Academy Awards.
Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, 2023, Apple TV+ has announced a new series featuring “nature’s most captivating giants,” and narrated by Tom Hiddleston.
Months after its launch, Netflix’s ad-supported plan has finally made it to the Apple TV with limited quality and streaming.
