After an intense bidding war between six outlets, Amazon and the Weinstein Co. have jointly acquired an eight-episode anthology from Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner. The potential series—to be written and at least partially directed by Weiner—attracted massive offers, according to Deadline (who first broke the news), with the final co-financing commitment from Amazon and Weinstein amounting to a staggering $70 million.
Over the past year, Weiner has directed the penultimate episode of Orange Is the New Black’s fourth season and penned a novel set to be published by Little, Brown, and Co. in late 2017. This, however, will mark his first major TV gig since Mad Men concluded in 2015. “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,” Weiner said in a statement. “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.”
The major deal is atypical for Amazon, which traditionally picks up series after launching pilots for the public to view and rate. However, the streaming outlet has more recently demonstrated a willingness to pay a premium price for talent. Its new drama Goliath, created by David E. Kelley and starring Billy Bob Thornton, was ordered straight to series, while Woody Allen’s critical bomb Crisis in Six Scenes was also greenlighted before any footage had been shot. Deadline reports that while Amazon has launched several successful, award-winning comedies—chief among them Transparent—the outlet is hoping that Weiner can deliver its first major drama-awards contender. No word yet on what the project will be about, exactly, though it will apparently take place in the present and be “set in multiple locations worldwide.”
