Amazon’s IMDb snags Sony’s ‘Alex Rider’ for the US

Alex Rider

Amazon’s IMDb TV has become the latest operator to pick up Sony Pictures Television’s (SPT) self-commissioned coming-of-age spy thriller Alex Rider for its service in the US.

The agreement will also see Amazon acquire the drama for its Prime Video service in Germany, Austria and Latin America, following a similar deal struck in the UK in May.

IMDb TV will debut the show from 13 November, with Amazon rolling the series out in Germany and Austria from 7 August. A date for the Lat Am launch has not been confirmed, while the show will also debut on Prime Video in Australia from 31 July.

SPT has already sold the series into more than 100 territories, including Movistar+ in Spain, Nordic streamer Viaplay and Starzplay in MENA, as well as Showmax in sub-Saharan Africa and Sony Liv in India.

The show, which was first with the UK’s ITV before being commissioned by SPT’s international production and distribution divisions on spec, is based on Point Blanc, the second book from Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series of novels.

It stars Otto Farrant as Alex Rider and follows the London-based teenager as he investigates his uncle’s death at a remote boarding school for troubled teenage children of the ultra-rich. The show also stars Stephen Dillane and Vicky McClure, while Horowitz serves as an executive producer.

It was produced by SPT-backed Eleventh Hour Films, whose former MD Nicole Finnan stepped down earlier this year, as revealed by TBI.

“With a 20 year literary history, the brand and iconic character of Alex Rider resonates with fans around the world,” said Lauren Anderson and Ryan Pirozzi, co-heads of content & programming for IMDb TV.