Amazon Studios wants its original programming to rival Netflix, and it’s willing to spend millions to make that happen. According to sources cited by Variety, Amazon is look for a big-name pilot to complete its next round of originals, and it is supposedly willing to pay more than $4 million to find what it wants.
According to the Variety article, Amazon plans to spend between $2 million and $4 million on each entry in its next round of pilots, but it could go above that budget if it finds the right fit. The platform is apparently looking for an “action-adventure comedy,” perhaps one that reboots a popular blockbuster movie franchise.
If you’ve follow Amazon’s originals from the start, you’ll remember they’ve tried something like that in the past; one of the offerings in the platform’s first round of original pilots was Zombieland, a reboot of the popular 2009 action comedy. That pilot was not well received, partially due to the absence of the original film’s cast, and it was not picked up.
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With a bigger budget, Amazon could potentially bring together a dynamite cast, since its other pilots usually feature big names on their ledgers. The first Amazon original series to get renewed for a second season was Alpha House, which is created by Garry Trudeau and stars John Goodman. The latest release from the platform is Transparent, which stars Jeffrey Tambor and has received strong reviews.
Amazon has already teased a few pilots that will be included in its next round. Among that group is Down Dog, a comedy that will star Lyndsy Fonseca.
Amazon’s take on this story is pretty simple: “We don’t comment on rumors,” a representative from the company told Variety.
