When it comes to original programming, it appears Amazon is finally hitting its stride. After taking home some coveted bling from the Golden Globes this past Sunday for the original comedy series Transparent, including Best Television Series, and Best Actor — Comedy or Musical for Jeffrey Tambor, the e-commerce giant today announced a deal with Woody Allen for the reclusive genius’ first ever TV show.
The acclaimed writer/director and neurotic-comedian extraordinaire will be given a full season order for a series consisting of an unknown number of 30-minute episodes which he will write and direct. Details on the upcoming series are scarce at best. There is no word on a release date or casting information, and the series is currently being called Untitled Woody Allen Project.
According to the official press release posted on Amazon’s corporate website, Allen is as shocked about this deal as the rest of us ““I don’t know how I got into this,” Allen stated “I have no ideas and I’m not sure where to begin. My guess is that Roy Price [Vice President of Amazon Studios] will regret this.”
Allen is represented by talent agency ICM Partners which also represents Transparent star Amy Landecker.
This is the first time Amazon has ordered a full season of original programming on the company’s Instant Video platform without going through its pilot program. Every other original Amazon series has begun with a pilot episode, which then goes through a round of voting by Amazon Prime members, including Transparent. Amazon’s first pilot season of 2015 will debut on January 15, and will feature 13 new TV shows, including pilots from Ridley Scott, Manhattan creator Sam Shaw, Lie to Me‘s Sam Baum.
This will mark Amazon’s third pilot season in under a year, after a 10 month gap between its first and second pilot seasons. Woody Allen’s new series, whatever it may be, is expected to air on Amazon Instant Video sometime next year.
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