Hulu makes Unreal drama move, takes Chance

US on-demand service Hulu has acquired exclusive digital rights to Unreal, the Lifetime drama series set in the world of reality TV, and given a two-season order to a Hugh Laurie-fronted medical drama.

The deal hands Hulu exclusive SVOD rights to the series from A+E Networks, which distributes the series.

The SVOD agreement means the show will be on the Hulu premium service and its paid-for ‘limited commercials’ plan, but not via the free option.

Season one of Unreal will be on the platform from February 3, and future seasons will be on Hulu after their debut on Lifetime.

Based on Sarah Gertrude Shapiro’s independent short film Sequin Raz, the series is produced by A+E Studios. The drama takes place on the set of a reality dating series, focusing on one of the young female producers as she manipulates the show’s contestants.

International buyers of the show include TF1 in France and Antena 3 in Spain.

The Hulu deal follows an earlier agreement between the platform and A+E for a raft of non-exclusive titles including Project Runway, Storage Wars, Intervention, Pawn Stars and American Pickers.

Elsewhere, Hulu has ordered Chance, a Hugh Laurie-starring thriller from Fox 21 Studios. The series is based on the eponymous Kem Nunn thriller and follows a forensic neuropsychiatrist (Laurie) who becomes embroiled in the criminal underworld.