With its latest pilot season now over, Amazon has finally decided which new shows are going to be joining their ranks along with Transparent and Alpha House. The list is as follows:
The Man in the High Castle:
Based on Philip K. Dick’s novel about an alternate history where the Axis won World War II and America was divided among its members, The Man in the High Castle ended up becoming Amazon’s most watched pilot of any grouping to date since the studio’s inception. Executive produced by Ridley Scott, the new show takes place 20 years after the end of the war where tensions between Japan and Germany are mounting, and America is the boiling point.
The pilot was written by Frank Spotnitz, executive produced by Ridley Scott and stars Alexa Davalos, Luke Kleintank, Rupert Evans, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Joel De La Fuente, Rufus Sewell, and DJ Qualls.
Mad Dogs:
Adapted from the U.K. series of the same name, Mad Dogs is about a group of friends that come together for a reunion at a Belizean villa. Unfortunately, things start going sideways for them fairly quickly, all leading to an ending that could everyone in far more trouble than they ever realized.
Written by original series creator Cris Cole and executive produced by Shawn Ryan, the series stars Steve Zahn, Billy Zane, Romany Malco, Michael Imperioli, and Ben Chaplin.
The New Yorker Presents
Marking the company’s first dip into the docu-series pool, The New Yorker Presents used visual flare to bring the contents of the famed publication to life. In the pilot episode, audiences were treated to a short film, a documentary short, and an interview with a performance artist. Those, in addition to animated displays that transitioned viewers in and out of the various segments.
The series is executive produced by documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, Dave Snyder, and Dawn Ostroff.
Just Add Magic:
A live action, single camera series, Just Add Magic is the first of two new children’s programming selections made by the studio.
Based on Cindy Callaghan’s YA book and adapted by Joanna Lewis & Kristine Songco (Sullivan & Son). The single-camera live-action pilot was directed by Joe Nussbaum (George Lucas In Love) and centers on Kelly Quinn and her two BFF’s, who stumble upon her grandmother’s mysterious cookbook in the attic and discover it has some magical recipes. (Deadline)
The series stars Olivia Sanabia, Abby Donnelly, Aubrey Miller, and Judah Bellamy.
The Stinky & Dirty Show:
The second children’s offering, The Stinky & Dirty Show is the only animated series of the bunch and is based on the I Stink! book series by Kate & Jim McMullan. Written by Guy Toubes, the show is animated by Brown Bag Films.
[The series] follows the adventures and mishaps faced by best friends and unlikely heroes, Stinky the garbage truck and Dirty, the backhoe loader. (Deadline)
—
In addition to the series orders, Amazon also renewed its new show, Mozart in the Jungle, for a second season.
Source: Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
