The Expanse


Amazon expands ‘Carnival Row’ but axes ‘Lore’ and ‘The Romanoffs’

Amazon has ordered a second season of its Orlando Bloom-starring drama Carnival Row before the first has even launched, but cancelled four of its other scripted series. Carnival Row, which is set in a Victorian fantasy world, will debut on the streaming service on August 30 and stars Bloom and Cara Delevingne. It follows a […]

US rubber-stamps Legendary-Wanda deal

US regulatory authorities have approved the deal that will see Legendary Entertainment pass into Dalian Wanda’s hands, marking the first time a US studio has come under Chinese control. China-based Dalian Wanda’s US$3.5 billion deal to buy the Hollywood studio has got the greenlight from the US Department of Commerce less than a month after […]

Chinese conglom pays $3.5bn for Legendary

China’s Dalian Wanda is to acquire US studio Legendary Entertainment for US$3.5 billion. The Chinese conglomerate confirmed it had entered into a ‘merger agreement’ that would see it pay around RMB23 billion in cash for full control of Legendary. Previous investors such as Japan’s SoftBank and investment group Waddell & Reed are selling their stakes. […]

Expanse prodco Alcon gets new TV chief

Alcon Television has got a new president, hot off the heels of the second season order for its Syfy drama The Expanse. Laura Lancaster has joined, having previously been executive VP, drama programming at NBC Entertainment. She will report to Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, co-founders and co-CEOs of Alcon TV’s parent firm, Alcon Entertainment. […]

Chinese giant ‘cuts deal for Legendary’

Chinese conglom Dalian Wanda Group is reported to have taken a majority stake in US studio Legendary Entertainment. Reuters quoted an unnamed source who claimed the deal, which values Legendary at between US$3 billion and US$4 billion, had been done. Dalian Wanda already owns North America’s second-largest movie theatre chain AMC Entertainment, but this would […]

Legendary status

Former Sony TV sales boss Michael Grindon tells Jesse Whittock how Legendary Television’s emerging international sales division can offer an alternative to the Hollywood studios. Despite being the LA production studio behind The Hangover movie franchise, Legendary Entertainment’s push into television has been anything but lethargic. Less than a year since former Sony Pictures Television […]

Syfy showcases Magicians, Helix unraveled

US cable channel Syfy has sent its fantasy drama pilot The Magicians to series days after cancelling sci-fi series Helix. The Magicians is based on Lev Grossman’s New York Times best-selling magical fantasy trilogy book series, and was brought to NBCUniversal-owned Syfy as a pilot last year. The thriller series follows Jason Ralph (Aquarius) as […]

Grindon’s Legendary unit to distribute The Expanse

Upcoming US sci-fi series The Expanse will be the first to be distributed by Michael Grindon’s new sales unit at Legendary Television. Former Sony Pictures Television international boss Grindon joined Legendary earlier this year to head up a new distribution division. It has now picked up international rights to The Expanse, the series based on […]

Syfy orders scripted space opera

US cable net Syfy has ordered The Expanse, a straight to series ‘space opera’. The ten-episode show will be based on Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck’s bestselling book series. It will be made by Alcon Television, the TV arm of movie producer Alcon Entertainment. Syfy is moving into scripted originals and claimed The Expanse is […]