Amazon today announced the lineup for its next pilot season; a unique development process that gives all customers an opportunity to stream and review pilots in order to help choose the next Amazon Original Series that are then available to Prime Members. These new shows are scheduled to debut on June 17 exclusively on Amazon Video in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Japan. New one hour-pilots The Last Tycoon and The Interestings will be available in 4K Ultra HD and HDR via the Amazon Video app for compatible TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/AmazonVideo. Learn more about both new Amazon pilot season entries below!
Amazon customer feedback on pilots have helped make some of the most critically-acclaimed and popular series to date, including multi Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series Transparent, multi Golden Globe-winning series Mozart in the Jungle, and the most-streamed Amazon Original Series ever by Prime members globally, The Man in the High Castle.
“We’re focused on bringing customers compelling, must-see TV and we accomplish this by going directly to them for input,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Digital Video and Amazon Studios. “Our process has proven to work time and time again. Their feedback has helped create series that have become fan favorites among critics and customers.”
Amazon’s next pilot season includes the following one hour shows:
THE INTERESTINGS: Adapted from Meg Wolitzer’s critically acclaimed New York Times best-seller and a co-production with TriStar Television, The Interestings follows a group of artistic teenagers who meet at summer camp in 1974. As they transition into adulthood over the course of the next few decades, their friendships are tested by tragedy, success, failure and secrecy. At the heart is Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under”) as Jules Jacobson, an aspiring actress who uses her wit to compensate for what she is lacking in glamour, money and the talent her other friends seem to have in spades. BAFTA winner Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral) directed the pilot written by Lyn Greene and Richard Levine (“Masters of Sex,” “Boss,” “Nip Tuck”). In addition to Greene, Levine and Newell, Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Lindsay Sloane (“Covert Affairs”) serve as executive producers. The Interestings also stars David Krumholtz (“Numb3rs”), Jessica Pare (“Mad Men”), Matt Barr (“Sleepy Hallow”), Gabriel Ebert (Ricki and the Flash), Jessica Collins (“Rubicon”) and Corey Cott (“Public Morals”). Wolitzer’s novel, which the series is based on, received numerous accolades from top tier press and made countless “best-of” lists, including Amazon Best Books of 2013: Top 10 Literature & Fiction, Top 100 Editors’ Picks, New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2013, inclusion in Oprah’s Best 10 Books of 2013, among others.
THE LAST TYCOON: A co-production with TriStar Television, The Last Tycoon is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Billy Ray (Captain Phillips, The Hunger Games), and executive produced by Ray and Christopher Keyser (Tyrant, Party of Five), who serve as showrunners, Joshua D. Maurer (Rosemary’s Baby), Alixandre Witlin (Rosemary’s Baby), and David A. Stern (Rosemary’s Baby). “Mad Men”’s Scott Hornbacher serves as co-executive producer of the pilot, along with Perri Kipperman (“Billions”). An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s last work, The Last Tycoon follows Hollywood’s Golden Boy, Monroe Stahr (Matt Bomer, “White Collar”) as he battles father figure and boss, Pat Brady (Kelsey Grammer, “Frasier”) for the soul of their studio. In a world darkened by the Great Depression and the growing international influence of Hitler’s Germany, The Last Tycoon illuminates the passions, violence, and towering ambition of 1930’s Hollywood. Lily Collins (The Blind Side) stars as Cecelia Brady and noted Pulitzer-winning Fitzgerald scholar A. Scott Berg serves as consulting producer.
