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[Poetic.Injustice]

The mandate from Jeff Bezos is clear: Bring me “Game of Thrones.”

That’s the word that has the creative community buzzing this week about a major strategy shift underway for Amazon Studios’ original series efforts.

The CEO of the e-commerce giant is said to have tasked Amazon Studios chief Roy Price with honing the focus on high-end drama series with global appeal. Amazon’s decision this week to scrap plans for a second season of period drama “Z: The Beginning of Everything” reflects the new marching orders.

On Friday, Amazon confirmed five new projects — series greenlights for a period drama from Paul Attanasio and Wong Kar-wai and a comedy starring Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph; two comedy pilots; and a Seth Rogen-produced comic book adaptation eyed as a straight-to-series order — that reflect the drive to find shows that deliver sizzle in the water-cooler environs of social media and can travel around the world.

“It comes out of analysis of the data and conversations among the leadership team,” Price said. “We’ve been looking at the data for some time, and as a team we’re increasingly focused on the impact of the biggest shows. It’s pretty evident that it takes big shows to move the needle.”

Price cited Amazon’s “Man in the High Castle,” the unscripted “Grand Tour,” and the new comedy “The Tick” as examples of existing shows that fit the bill of having global appeal. And he doesn’t mince words about his interest in finding a show that packs the wallop of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

“I do think ‘Game of Thrones’ is to TV as ‘Jaws’ and ‘Star Wars’ was to the movies of the 1970s,” Price said. “It’ll inspire a lot of people. Everybody wants a big hit and certainly that’s the show of the moment in terms of being a model for a hit.”

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/amazon-studios-jeff-bezos-roy-price-zelda-1202552532/

 

[JonnyDBrit]

Yeah uh, good luck with that. Game of Thrones didn't exactly become this megahit right out of the gate. It took time to snowball.

 

[Baconsaurus Rex]

It's nice to want things

 

[slit]

Well if it lights a fire under them then good. They are way behind Netflix and HBO on the quality original programming front.

 

[BassForever]

Its nice to want things

And

Good luck

 

[Fat4all]

good luck with that

Transparent will probs be the closest you get for a while

after that, it's up to luck and skill

 

[Jyrii]

Should make series of Malazan book of the fallen.

Not that it would get into GoT levels of hype, nothing will.

 

[DrSlek]

American God's is looking pretty good.

 

[Link]

If it were that easy, every network would be full of top-rated shows

Yeah uh, good luck with that. Game of Thrones didn't exactly become this megahit right out of the gate. It took time to snowball.

Did it? I feel like it was a pretty big hit right away.

 

[Metalmarc]

Another Comic book show from Seth Rogen? Wonder what that is going to be

 

[jviggy43]

Please adapt a book series that's finished so we don't get S7 Got again.

 

[Ferrio]

Dune, and do it right this time.

 

[Fat4all]

Dune, and do it right this time.

i fear no one will everyone able to do Dune right

 

[cirrhosis]

Damn, I enjoyed Z. Amazon will never have a mega - show like GOT. Money is not there.

i fear no one will everyone able to do Dune right

Unfortunately I concur


Edit - do the horus heresy from the beginning, script written competently. Could last forever

 

[tim.mbp]

Another Comic book show from Seth Rogen? Wonder what that is going to be

It's The Boys.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Well if it lights a fire under them then good. They are way behind Netflix and HBO on the quality original programming front.

Yep, I recently thought about cancelling Prime, because there's currently nothing interesting and I don't order that often from them that the free shipping would be worth it..
Netflix is just that much better when it comes to television.

 

[InstigateAndInquire]

Should make series of Malazan book of the fallen.

Please adapt a book series that's finished so we don't get s1 thru s6 of GOT again.

Winners. Btw FTFY.

 

[RetroDLC]

I have a suggestion... Berserk.

 

[jelly]

So, will they buy the rights to something or make something new?

People have said World War Z would be better as a series but film rights have probably stopped that for now.

Sci Fi is probably a tough one. The Expanse is kinda similar but hasn't gained great popularity unfortunately, great show, watch it.

Halo from Microsoft needs seem mainstream love, again that's sci fi which might not get the numbers.

That Southern Reach trilogy was one that popped into my head but again, that's an upcoming film now.

 

[Fat4all]

adapt my life story

 

[jviggy43]

Winners. Btw FTFY.

Gross.

 

[Shy]

i fear no one will everyone able to do Dune right

Yeah *sigh*

 

[JonnyDBrit]

If it were that easy, every network would be full of top-rated shows

Did it? I feel like it was a pretty big hit right away.

Emphasis megahit in this instance. Like, it did very well, especially for HBO's subscription service, but it has built up each season and subsequent hype. Here's a chart shamelessly stolen from Wikipedia to visualise such:

Naturally, pirating has gone up exponentially over time as well. You will not see 'Game of Thrones' as it stands today in season 1 of whatever its next equivalent in popularity is.

 

[BassForever]

I have a suggestion... Berserk.

A live action Berserk is probably the only thing that could eventually get to got size popularity if done right.

 

[old manatee]

Gilligan's Island reboot. If you build it they will come.

 

[nephilimdj]

Remember when people claimed grand tour was going to make bbc cry and regret everything?

throw half a billion dollars at some people and cant get a hit

 

[Maintenance]

I have a suggestion... Berserk.

Well, one thing in common is that both series would end before the real ending happened.

Plus, one whole season of

 

[turmoil]

Shitloads of money at something Berserk pls

 

[ErasureAcer]

I have the show for Bezos.

The show is called VI

Spoiler

Final Fantasy

 

[Slayven]

Release Amazons in the USA

I wondered how the Grand Tour turned out for them. I never see people talk about it

 

[Deleted member 1235]

Yeah uh, good luck with that. Game of Thrones didn't exactly become this megahit right out of the gate. It took time to snowball.

Well if anything it probably means that creators are taking a serious look at fantasy which is good. Maybe those got guys can finish name of the wind for that other guy that can't finish stories

Edit: also time to forget dark tower movie happened and....

 

[Snoopycat]

An adaptation of The Stand would probably do well. There's enough material there to last a few seasons

 

[HariKari]

Spend the money on the talent and the IP then, Bezos. Franchises don't grow on trees.

 

[LordOfLore]

Who has the TV rights to Wheel of Time?

 

[takriel]

Do Name of the Wind or Mistborn, then.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

It certainly won't be Oasis. Stop greenlighting trash

 

[kmax]

Good luck.

I hope you succeed. TV has been blowing movies out of the water, and I welcome it.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

I also like to demand things, so I can sympathize

 

[Hot Coldman]

Wild idea maybe, but they should do Fire Emblem.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

How about Mass Effect? You've got a good story with a clear arc that would work for probably 6 seasons, with good characters and enough content and world building to expand as well. They don't want to just do another fantasy shoe because that would never get out GoT's shadow.

 

[Salty Rice]

It's nice to want things

But he DEMANDS IT!

 

[HotHamBoy]

This is the most TV Executive mentality ever.

 

[SolarPowered]

I have a suggestion... Berserk.

http://cdn2.natalie.mu/media/comic/1606/0610/extra/news_xlarge_berserk1.[IMG][/QUOTE]
Would be a huge hit if done mostly faithfully. Don't know about being as big as GoT, though.
[quote="Maintenance, post: 248454632"]Well, one thing in common is that both series would end before the real ending happened.

Plus, one whole season of

[IMG]https://i.giphy.com/media/l2Jeczy9FOg59bKYE/giphy.webp[IMG][/QUOTE]
The extremely long breaks between releases really did a disservice to that arc. If read at the pace of any other Berserk arc it is actually entertaining, the art is spectacular and the sea monster designs are right out of our worst nightmares.

 

[Fat4all]

But he DEMANDS IT!

i demand quality in my selection of sliced meats, but it's always just below what I'd prefer


but I always eat it anyways

 

[shira]

How about Mass Effect? You've got a good story with a clear arc that would work for probably 6 seasons, with good characters and enough content and world building to expand as well. They don't want to just do another fantasy shoe because that would never get out GoT's shadow.

Mass Effect has a plot. I'm not so sure about good story

 

[Horp]

Step 1. Base it on a GOOD story. Dont focus at all on making sure it checks whatever list of boxes you have.

Step 2. Get a GOOD director. Dont focus on someone popular or someone checks whatever list of boxes you have.

Make it GOOD. Thats the key. Dont think "we need a show that does X in a Y kind of way". No one thought random adults that normally watch drama shows would suddenly go crazy of dragons and swords. Hint: it was because it was good.

 

[Dynamite Shikoku]

Do basically the same thing but change the setting to an Edo era like Japan. Give me money

 

[Kalor]

GoT took a while to grow into this huge thing so I wonder if they'd be committed to the shows if they don't immediately deliver.

 

[tim.mbp]

I'm actually interested in a bunch of their upcoming shows, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Jack Ryan, and Matthew Weiner's new show,

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Do basically the same thing but change the setting to an Edo era like Japan. Give me money

I'd buy ten!