TCA: Amazon Reaches Production Deal With Steve McQueen

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon Studios announced several new production deals, including an overall deal with Academy Award winning director/producer Steve McQueen, during its TCA executive panel Tuesday (Jan. 14). 

McQueen, who won an Academy Award for producing 12 Years a Slave, will produce a new series for Prime dubbed Last Days, according to Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. McQueen’s drama series Small Axe will also premiere on Amazon Prime Video later this year. 

Salke also announced a new production deal with Brad Pitt’s Plan B Production company, which is currently producing The Underground Railroad with Barry Jenkins for Amazon. The company will work on a new series, Outer Range, for Amazon. 

Also signing new production deals with Amazon are producers Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, according to Salke. The duo will serve as executive producers on the Amazon original series ‘Untitled Cortés and Moctezuma Project.’

On the series side, Amazon announced that it will develop a new series based on the Jack Reacher series of books from writer Lee Child, said Salke. Amazon also signed Priyanka Chopra, Richard Madden to appear in its global drama series Citadel from producers Anthony and Joe Russo. 

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.