Spielberg, Oprah to make shows for Apple's new streaming service
Apple Inc unveiled an all new Apple TV app and a streaming service called Apple TV+ at an event on Monday at its California headquarters.
A number of celebrities, including director Steven Spielberg and actors Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, took stage to announce their shows on Apple TV+.
** THE MORNING SHOW SERIES
A drama series starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston that looks at the lives of people working on a morning television show.
** REVIVAL OF STEVEN SPIELBERG’S “AMAZING STORIES”
Spielberg to make new episodes of the science fiction and horror anthology series that ran on NBC in the 1980s.
** AN ANTHOLOGY SERIES CALLED “LITTLE AMERICA”
Kumail Nanjiani’s show focuses on stories of immigrants coming to the United States.
** A FANTASY SCI-FI EPIC STARRING JASON MOMOA, ALFRE WOODARD
The show poses questions about the fate of humanity if everyone lost their sight.
** SESAME STREET-THEMED SHOW FOR CHILDREN
New show with “Sesame Street” creators in which characters use computer coding skills to solve problems
** J.J. ABRAMS-PRODUCED LITTLE VOICE
Singer and actress Sara Bareilles is writing the music and starring in the J.J. Abrams-produced show, which explores the journey of a young musician “learning to find herself and her true voice”.
** OPRAH WINFREY PARTNERSHIP
Oprah is working on two documentaries, one called “Toxic Labor” about workplace harassment and another multi-part series focusing on mental health.
Oprah is also working on a book club with Apple.
Other shows confirmed by Apple:
** A NEW THRILLER BY M NIGHT SHYAMALAN
Plot of the story has not been disclosed.
** “ARE YOU SLEEPING?” - A MYSTERY SERIES
A drama featuring Octavia Spencer, based on a crime novel by Kathleen Barber.
** AN ANIMATED CARTOON MUSICAL CALLED “CENTRAL PARK”
The animated musical comedy is about a family of caretakers who end up saving the park and the world.
** “DICKINSON”, AN EMILY DICKINSON COMEDY
A half-hour comedy series that is set during American poet Emily Dickinson’s era with a modern sensibility and tone.
SHOWS REPORTED BY MEDIA:
** TIME BANDITS - A FANTASY SERIES
The potential series is an adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy film of the same name, about a young boy who joins a group of renegade time-traveling dwarves, Deadline reported.
** UNTITLED “CAPTAIN MARVEL” STAR BRIE LARSON’S CIA PROJECT
The new series looks at a young woman’s journey in the CIA, reported Variety.
** DEFENDING JACOB - STARRING CAPTAIN AMERICA CHRIS EVANS
This limited series is based on the novel of the same name and is about an assistant district attorney, who is investigating the murder of a 14-year-old boy, according to Deadline.
** “FOR ALL MANKIND” - A SCI-FI SERIES
A space drama from producer Ronald Moore, according to Deadline.
** MY GLORY WAS I HAD SUCH FRIENDS
A series featuring Jennifer Garner is based on the 2017 memoir of the same name by Amy Silverstein, reported Variety.
** FOUNDATION - A SCI-FI ADAPTATION
An adaptation of the iconic novel series from famed sci-fi author Isaac Asimov, Deadline reported. The book series follows a mathematician who predicts the collapse of humanity.
** A COMEDY SHOW BY ROB MCELHENNEY AND CHARLIE DAY
The sitcom comedy based on the lives of a diverse group of people who work together in a video game development studio, Variety reported.
** AN UNSCRIPTED SERIES “HOME” FROM THE DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MATT TYRNAUER
The series will offer viewers a never-before-seen look inside the world’s most extraordinary homes and feature interviews with people who built them, according to Variety.
** UNTITLED RICHARD GERE SERIES
Based on an Israeli series Nevelot, the show is about two elderly Vietnam vets whose lives are changed when a woman they both love is killed in a car accident, Deadline reported.
** THE PEANUTS GANG
Apple has acquired the rights to the famous characters and the first series will be a science and math oriented short featuring Snoopy as an astronaut, according to Hollywood Reporter.
** ON THE ROCKS
A feature film, directed by Sofia Coppola, starring Bill Murray, is about a young mother who reconnects with her larger-than-life playboy father on an adventure through New York, Variety reported.
** LOSING EARTH
Apple has acquired the rights to a TV series based on Nathaniel Rich’s 70-page New York Times Magazine story “Losing Earth”, New York Times reported.
** THE ELEPHANT QUEEN
Apple has acquired the rights to Victoria Stone and Mark Deeble’s documentary The Elephant Queen, Deadline reported.
** WOLFWALKERS
An Irish animation about a young hunter who comes to Ireland with her father to destroy a pack of evil wolves, but instead befriends a wild native girl who runs with them, first reported by Bloomberg.
** PACHINKO
Apple has secured the rights to develop Min Jin Lee’s best-selling novel, about four generations of a Korean immigrant family, into a series, reported Variety.
** CALLS
Apple has bought the rights to make an English-language version of the French original short-form series, according to Variety.
** SHANTARAM
Apple has won the rights to develop the hit novel Shantaram as a drama series, reported Variety.
** SWAGGER, A DRAMA SERIES BASED ON KEVIN DURANT
A drama series based on the early life and career of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, according to Variety.
** YOU THINK IT, I’LL SAY IT
Apple has ordered a 10-episode, half-hour run of the comedy show, which is an adaptation of Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection by the same name, Variety reported.
** WHIPLASH DIRECTOR DAMIEN CHAZELLE DRAMA SERIES
According to Variety, Apple has ordered a whole season of a series without first shooting a pilot, but no other details are known about the show.
** Apple may offer cut-priced bundles with video offering - The Information reported on Thursday.
