Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment signs first-look deal with Apple TV+

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Imagine Entertainment signs first-look deal with Apple TV+
Ron Howard and Brian Grazer might make films for Apple TV+.
Photo: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer

Apple TV+ now has a first-look deal with Imagine Entertainment, who produced films like A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13. The agreement could bring movies from this long-running production company helmed by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to Apple’s streaming video service.

The deal between Apple and Imagine Entertainment was first reported by Variety on Thursday.

It doesn’t mean Apple automatically owns any film ideas this company comes up with. But the producers must offer Apple TV+ the opportunity to buy the rights to new projects before it tries to make deals with any rivals, like Netflix or Amazon.

The new deal only covers scripted feature films. But Apple previously had a similar agreement with Imagine Documentaries, and this has now been extended. The production company already had a first-look deal with CBS that covers TV shows.

Since being founded in 1985, Imagine Entertainment has racked up 10 Academy Awards on 43 nominations. And it’s won 10 Golden Globes.

Apple TV+ already working with Imagine Documentaries

The earlier deal between Apple and Imagine Documentaries resulted in Dads, directed by by Bryce Dallas Howard, Ron Howard’s daughter. And the same goes for Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10, which won an Emmy.

The production company is currently working on The Supermodels about fashion icons of the ‘90s. And a documentary for the 70th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip. Both will appear on Apple TV+.

New films from Imagine Entertainment will join a slate of thrillers, crime dramas, sci-fi and much more already available on Apple’s streaming service. Watching any of the shows or movies requires paying $4.99 a month.

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