Matthew Weiner - the creator of the chart topping AMC original drama series Mad Men - has remained a permanent fixture in the Hollywood limelight following the series finale of his Emmy and Golden Globe winning show in 2015. Despite only releasing one feature film in the time since his TV show about the cutthroat world of competing commercial advertising agencies in the 1960s left the air - in the form of the comedy/drama Are You Here - Weiner is still a talent to be courted and reckoned with by several interested Hollywood studios and executives.
Ever since he got his start as a staff writer on the wildly successful HBO drama series The Sopranos throughout the 2000s under series creator David Chase, Weiner has been a key mover and shaker in Hollywood - all in spite of the fact that he was initially turned down multiple times over when he was first optioning Mad Men as a network television series. On that note, the latest word has production on Weiner's latest project underway as a TV series at Amazon.
According to Deadline, The Weinstein Company and Amazon have just signed a deal to produce an all-new drama series set in the present-day that was created by Weiner, to premiere on the latter studio's online streaming platform as part of a $70 million deal. The eight-episode first season will be written and executive produced by Weiner, who will also be directing half of the first series episodes. Speaking to his enthusiasm for the new project, Weiner stated:
"In a time when there are so many options for entertainment, it’s been tremendous to see how Roy Price and Amazon have taken center stage by distinguishing themselves through bold choices. I am truly excited to have this opportunity to work with risk takers like them and Harvey and The Weinstein Company who have a proven, longstanding commitment to creative voices and innovation."
Following his work on The Sopranos and Mad Men, it will be more than exciting to see what Weiner has up his sleeve next with his forthcoming original TV series for Amazon. Joining the ranks of critically well-regarded Amazon shows such as Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle, Weiner's latest will have a lot to live up to when it finally makes its way online - presumably within the next two years.
Given what Weiner himself refers to as a wide array of "options for entertainment" in the contemporary media landscape, it will be intriguing to see just how big of an audience the Mad Men creator's new show will be able to draw through Amazon's exclusive online streaming service. It's truly a brave new world when it comes to distributing cutting-edge television series, and Weiner's latest might yet prove to be among the better options available to viewers around the world.
We'll bring you more information on Weiner's new TV show (including, the official title) as it becomes available.
Source: Deadline