Former Game of Thrones and current Aquaman actor Jason Momoa is set to star in another new Apple original series.
Called See, the show is an epic, world-building drama that’s set in the future. Momoa will play the lead role of Baba Voss, described by trade magazine Variety as, “a fearless warrior, leader and guardian.” So a totally different type of role for Momoa, then!
Apple still hasn’t revealed exactly how it plans to make its original video content available to customers.
However, a new report suggests that Apple may take a page out of Amazon’s playbook by launching a single Amazon Prime-style subscription package, compiling Apple Music, a magazine subscription service, and its original TV shows into one.
Apple has ordered yet another series for its original video content programming. This time, the series in question is an English language adaptation of Calls, a highly experimental French short-form series that tells short stories through real-life audio sources and minimal visuals.
Apple is reportedly negotiating with Cartoon Saloon, an Irish Oscar-nominated animation studio, for the distribution rights for what would be Apple’s first animated feature film.
A deal is supposedly close to being reached, although there are scant details beyond this. Cartoon Saloon has previously produced three Academy Award-nominated animations including Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner and Song of the Sea. Its preschool series, Puffin Rock can be found on Netflix, and is also popular in China.
Breaking Bad co-star Aaron Paul has signed on to act in Apple’s upcoming Are You Sleeping? drama series.
Paul will join previously announced cast members Octavia Spencer and Lizzy Caplan. Other newly signed cast members will include This Is Us and Luke Cage actor Ron Cephas Jones, Weeds actress Elizabeth Perkins, ER actress Mekhi Phifer, Sons of Anarchy‘s Michael Beach, and others.
Apple still has yet to debut any of its new crop of original drama shows, but in the meantime it is continuing to stock its Worldwide Video team with talented execs.
The latest hiring is former Viacom and Broadway Video (the media company led by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels) vice president Kelly Costello. She joins Apple as its new video-related business affairs executive.
As the current king of the streaming video world, Netflix knows it’s got a target on its back — and it’s certainly sweating because Apple wants to steal its crown. So Netflix is using a tactic once employed by Apple, positioning itself as a scrappy, nimble upstart able to easily outflank its deep-pocketed adversaries.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings even called his company “the anti-Apple” this weekend, painting Cupertino as a secretive company limited in its operational speed by obsessive top-down control.
That’s a misreading of the situation, and a serious strategic mistake. In fact, if Netflix misplays its cards, it could find itself Sherlocked.
Apple has hired Dana Tuinier, a former creative executive for the Paramount Network and Fox, to help develop original comedy shows for its Worldwide Video unit.
Tuinier will be reporting to Apple’s head of development Matt Cherniss. Among her first jobs will be working on Apple’s recently acquired comedy series, starring Kristen Wiig. The series is inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection “You Think It, I’ll Say It,” and will consist of 10 half-hour episodes.
Apple has hired another high level scripted television veteran as part of its Apple Worldwide Video initiative.
Michelle Lee has been named a creative executive at Apple Worldwide Video. In her previous role at the Universal Television-based True Jack Productions, she developed and executive produced multiple series, including the upcoming Rise for NBC, The Path for Hulu, About a Boy for NBC, and Pure Genius for CBS.
