Amazon MGM Studios & Audible strike extensive podcast deal

Vernon Sanders

Amazon MGM Studios has struck a deal with sister firm Audible that will see the two companies adapting podcasts for TV.

Scripted podcasts that are being developed include The Prophecy, Hot White Heist, Oracle and Nut Jobs, while unscripted IP includes singing competition Breakthrough.

The projects will be co-developed and co-produced by both Amazon MGM Studios and Audible, which the retail giant acquired in 2008.

Resulting shows could land on the retailer’s Prime Video and MGM+, or be sold to third pastries according to Variety, which broke the news.

Projects will be overseen for Audible by Jackie Levine, head of TV and film and Amazon MGM Studios’ Vernon Sanders.

Podcasts have long been seen as a key development tool for those in scripted and unscripted, with this latest deal following news that Michael Connelly’s The Wonderland Murders & The Secret History Of Hollywood is being adapted for MGM+ as a four-episode docuseries, with Alison Ellwood attached to direct.

Rachel Ghiazza, Audible’s chief content officer, described the deal as “a pivotal and transformative moment” for the audio company.

Sanders, head of TV for Amazon MGM Studios, added: “In this digital age, irresistible storytelling is emerging through a variety of mediums, and we are lucky to have engaging originals debuting through our colleagues at Audible.

“These original podcasts have already engaged and entertained audiences and we look forward to developing a visual component to expand the storytelling.”

The full slate includes:

• The Prophecy, acquired by ABC Signature, Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series with Simpson Street, QCode and Station26 attached to produce, Randy McKinnon attached to write
• Hot White Heist, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a half-hour comedy series, with Broadway Video and Alan Cumming attached to produce, John Riggi and Adam Goldman attached to write
• Nut Jobs, acquired by MGM Television as a one-hour drama series, with Escape Artists attached to produce including executive producers Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, and Jordan Edelstein; with Marc Fennell and Sony Music Podcasts attached to executive produce, and Aaron Korsh and Rick Muirragui attached to create and executive produce
• Oracle, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series, with Jordan Feiner and 3 Arts Entertainment attached to produce
• Temporal, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series, with Storypunk and Low Spark Television attached to produce, Julian Simpson attached to write
• Daniel X: Genesis, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series, with James Patterson Entertainment attached to produce
• Words + Music, acquired by MGM+ as a music docuseries with The Kennedy/Marshall Company attached to produce
• Breakthrough, a one-hour unscripted series, produced by MGM Alternative and At Will Media, executive produced by The Chainsmokers