Audible and Amazon MGM Studios, a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content, unveiled plans to co-develop and co-produce an impressive slate of Audible Originals as series in development.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with our colleagues at Amazon MGM Studios, who share our commitment to accelerating the craft of storytelling, on this new and incredibly exciting endeavor,” said Rachel Ghiazza, Chief Content Officer at Audible. “All of the titles in this formidable slate of adaptations feature compelling and inspired narratives, well thought-out, complex characters, and will be brought to life by some of the most dynamic creatives in the industry.” She added: “We believe that this is a pivotal and transformative moment for Audible and look forward to this next chapter with great anticipation.”
“In this digital age, irresistible storytelling is emerging through a variety of mediums, and we are lucky to have engaging Originals debuting through our colleagues at Audible,” says Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “These original podcasts have already engaged and entertained audiences and we look forward to developing a visual component to expand the storytelling.”
The full slate includes:
- The Prophecy, acquired by ABC Signature, Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series with Simpson Street, QCODE and Station26 attached to produce, Randy McKinnon attached to write;
- Hot White Heist, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a half-hour comedy series, with Broadway Video and Alan Cumming attached to produce, John Riggi and Adam Goldman attached to write;
- Nut Jobs, acquired by MGM Television as a one-hour drama series, with Escape Artists attached to produce including executive producers Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, and Jordan Edelstein; with Marc Fennell and Sony Music Podcasts attached to executive produce, and Aaron Korsh and Rick Muirragui attached to create and executive produce;
- Oracle, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series, with Jordan Feiner and 3 Arts Entertainment attached to produce;
- *Temporal”, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series, with Storypunk and Low Spark Television attached to produce, Julian Simpson attached to write;
- Daniel X: Genesis, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series, with James Patterson Entertainment attached to produce;
- Words + Music, acquired by MGM+ as a music docuseries with The Kennedy/Marshall Company attached to produce; Words + Music is a brand-defining content vertical for Audible, shining a light on today’s most significant artists;
- Breakthrough, a one-hour unscripted series, produced by MGM Alternative and AT WILL MEDIA, executive produced by Grammy Award-winning duo The Chainsmokers;
These new deals join the recently announced adaptation of best-selling author Michael Connelly’s The Wonderland Murders & the Secret History of Hollywood, acquired by MGM+ as a four-episode docuseries, with Alison Ellwood attached to direct.
Audible Original loglines:
- The Prophecy is a supernatural thriller set against the backdrop of worldwide, unexplainable natural disasters. In the Audible Original, from QCODE, Emmy Award-winners Kerry Washington and Laurence Fishburne lead a full star-studded cast including Daniel Dae Kim and David Oyelowo. Writer and Executive Producer Randy McKinnon spins a suspenseful version of the Bible, replaying the story of the Virgin Mary in modern-day times.
- Hot White Heist follows a crew of misfits from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum as they attempt the stickiest heist in history. This scripted comedy follows Jude “Judy” Fink played by Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang, and an all-star, all-queer cast including Cynthia Nixon, Abbi Jacobson, Jane Lynch, and more.
- Nut Jobs is an Australian Audible Original unearthing the true story of the $10 million heist you’ve never heard of. The Creator and Executive Producer of Suits, Aaron Korsh, and Suits Executive Producer, Rick Muirragui, will adapt Marc Fennell’s multi-award-winning podcast series that explores a rabbit-hole of crime syndicates, stolen identities and private investigators that will change the way we think about food forever.
- Oracle is a Canadian Audible Original following an FBI psychic who helps solve abductions and homicides by touching those close to the missing persons. Written by best-selling author Andrew Pyper and performed by Joshua Jackson, this high-stakes psychological thriller combines crime investigations with supernatural elements.
- Temporal will release as an Audible Original in August 2024. In this sci-fi adventure, a team of time-travelers seeks to discover what caused the entire human population of Earth to vanish.
- Daniel X: Genesis is a brilliant expansion of internationally renowned author James Patterson’s Daniel X series. Starring Michael Cimino (Love, Victor), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) and a full cast, Daniel X: Genesis*, co-written by Aaron Tracy, tells the origin story of Daniel, a teen who can conjure anything.
- *Words + Music blends personal storytelling with never-before-heard performances, these musical narratives reflect the creative visions of a plethora of award-winning entertainers.
- Breakthrough is an electrifying, first-ever singing competition series developed and launched exclusively as a podcast. Expert celebrity judges Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child, The X Factor) and Sara Bareilles (Waitress, Into the Woods, Girls5eva) coach five undiscovered artists as host Daveed Diggs (Hamilton, Blindspotting, The Little Mermaid*) leads competitors through challenges.
- The Wonderland Murders & The Secret History of Hollywood is Michael Connelly’s (Bosch; The Lincoln Lawyer) hit Audible podcast providing the definitive examination of the infamous Wonderland murder case in 1980s Los Angeles.
Projects will be overseen by Jackie Levine, Head of Television and Film, at Audible.
