In an interview published yesterday, new Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said she would be fervently pursuing development contracts with top talent. (“I’m going to be hands-on with all of those people because I am personally the one going out and trying to get them,” Salke told The Hollywood Reporter. “You’re going to see me aggressively pursuing people.”)
Today, it was announced that the Salke regime landed a big get: THR reports that Nicole Kidman is now under contract with her company, Blossom Films, in a first-look film and TV deal with the streaming studio. Kidman currently has multiple active projects in the works at HBO, including Big Little Lies, but Salke did not come to play with these rivals companies, and is looking to snatch up A-listers who haven’t yet committed to massive overall deals like Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy have with Netflix.
“Nicole is a force of nature as both an actress and a producer,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “She understands the focus of bringing addictive, entertaining and compelling television to our Prime Video customers as well as movies that will connect with film audiences. Stay tuned for many exciting projects to come in the very near future!”
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During her recent first found of Q&As since joining Amazon Studios, Salke indicated that the company plans to be aggressive in pursuing first-look and overall deals with top talent, especially all-encompassing pacts that span TV and film. Amazon Studios recently inked an exclusive first-look TV deal with Jordan Peele. (He already has a film agreement at Fox.) “You’ll see that anyone that I make a deal with, for the most part, has one thing in common,” Salke told Deadline during the Q&A. “They all want to break out and be original. They want a cultural impact, and they want to be entertaining.”
“I’m excited to start working with Jen Salke and the Amazon team.” said Kidman. “Our goal at Blossom Films is to create important and entertaining content across multiple platforms, and I can’t think of better collaborators with which to accomplish this.”
Amazon’s Prime Video slate includes the anticipated Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryanstarring John Krasinski, Homecoming from creator Sam Esmail and starring Julia Roberts and Bobby Cannavale, critically praised The Man in the High Castle, and legal drama Goliath starring Billy Bob Thornton. Amazon Studios will also premiere Gus Van Sant’s Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, Dan Fogelman’s Life Itself,Felix Van Groeningen’s Beautiful Boy, Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria, and Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War.
(Excerpts) Read More at: Vulture.com and Deadline.com
