Erik Gruenwedel
July 13, 2020
Apple TV+ continues to up the ante for original programming, reportedly signing British actor Idris Elba to a “first-look” production deal that includes episodic programs and movies.
Apple TV+ launched on Nov. 1, 2019, priced at $4.99 monthly with advertising.
Elba launched Green Door Pictures in 2013, whose TV credits include comedies “In The Long Run,” and short-lived Netflix series ‘Turn Up Charlie,” in addition to feature film Concrete Cowboy.
Apple, which launched with director Steven Spielberg on board to create content, also has deals with Oprah Winfrey, Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón (Roma) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, among others.
Cuarón joined Apple through his agent, Theresa Kang-Lowe, the former WME executive who left to start her own talent agency, Blue Marble Pictures, with a mandate on discovering and amplifying “underrepresented voices” in film and on TV.
Elba, who next appears in Warner Bros.’ The Suicide Squad in 2021, remains represented by WME.
Related Posts
Ex-HBO Boss Inks 5-Year Apple TV+ Production DealIn a move to jumpstart its branded subscription streaming video service, Apple has reportedly signed a five-year production deal with Richard Plepler, former CEO of HBO. Under the deal ironed out by Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, Apple's joint…
Apple TV+ Inks Deal with Julia Louis-DreyfusApple has signed an overall deal with actress and producer Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Under the multiyear agreement, Louis-Dreyfus will develop new projects exclusively for Apple TV+ as both an executive producer and star. The deal marks her first-ever overall deal with…
Acorn TV Ups Original Content ProductionAcorn Media Enterprises (AME) has partnered with Jungle Entertainment, ABC Australia and Screen Australia as the North American co-producer of original family comedy, “Sando.” The six-part series recently wrapped filming in Sydney and stars Sacha Horler (The Kettering Incident, The Letdown) as…
TiVo Ups Google Deal to Include YouTube TVTiVo Jan. 18 announced an updated patent license agreement with Google that includes the search behemoth’s online television service, YouTube TV. The deal covers Google’s use of TiVo’s technologies worldwide and offers a license for Google’s products and services across Internet-based…
