Amazon has greenlit a handful of titles including a renewal of Lore:

EATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 21, 2018– (NASDAQ: AMZN)–Amazon Studios today announced it has acquired the global television rights to the Culture’s first novel Consider Phlebas. The famed space opera by Scottish writer Iain M. Banks features Banks’ fictional interstellar utopian society, the Culture. The series will be adapted by Dennis Kelly (Utopia, Matilda) with Plan B Entertainment (World War Z, 12 Years a Slave, The Big Short, Moonlight, Feud) slated to produce and the Estate of Iain Banks attached as Executive Producer.

A kinetic, action-packed adventure on a huge canvas, Consider Phlebas draws upon the extraordinary world and mythology Banks created in the Culture, in which a highly advanced and progressive society ends up at war with the Idirans, a deeply religious, warlike race intent on dominating the entire galaxy.

The story centers on Horza, a rogue agent tasked by the Idirans with the impossible mission of recovering a missing Culture ‘Mind,’ an artificial intelligence many thousands of times smarter than any human–something that could hold the key to wiping out the Culture altogether. What unfolds, with Banks’ trademark irreverent humor, ultimately asks the poignant question of how we can use technology to preserve our humanity, not surrender it.

“The story of the Culture is so rich and captivating that for years Hollywood has been trying to bring this utopian society to life on the screen,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Scripted Series at Amazon Studios. “We are honored that we have been chosen, along with Dennis Kelly and Plan B Entertainment, to make Consider Phlebas into a television series we think will be loved by fans for years to come.”

“Iain Banks has long been a hero of mine, and his innate warmth, humor and humanism shines through these novels,” said Dennis Kelly. “Far from being the dystopian nightmares that we are used to, Banks creates a kind of flawed paradise, a society truly worth fighting for–rather than a warning from the future, his books are a beckoning.”

“We revere the work of Iain Banks and continue to be moved by his inimitable spirit and his commitment to imagining a better future even in the darkest of times,” said Plan B. “Consider Phlebas, simultaneously explores the deepest questions concerning humanity and our future. We are so grateful to the Estate of Iain Banks for the opportunity to bring his work to life, and to Amazon for the scope of their ambition to building Iain’s prescient world.”

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 26, 2018– (NASDAQ: AMZN)–Amazon announced today it has greenlit a second season of the critically-acclaimed Prime Original series Lore. Season one of the supernatural series, adapted from Aaron Mahnke’s award-winning podcast of the same name, is now available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories. Sean Crouch (The Exorcist, Numb3rs) is taking over showrunner duties for season two.

From Executive Producers Ben Silverman (The Office), Howard T. Owens (Killing Kennedy), Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead), Brett-Patrick Jenkins (Face Off), Jon Halperin and Mark Mannucci (A Year in Space), Lore explores the real-life frightening and disturbing tales that give rise to modern-day myths and legends. Season two will feature new tales from the podcast, as well as original stories not yet available in podcast form, and will star new cast members. The hybrid series will continue to feature narration, archive footage and animation to complement the filmed segments.

“Customers loved the first season of Lore for its unique blend of narrative and documentary storytelling, and we’re excited to give them another season of this suspenseful hybrid series,” said Heather Schuster, Head of Unscripted, Amazon Originals. “Sean brings great experience in the supernatural genre, and we’re excited for him to help us tell even more frightening and visually captivating stories.”

“As a fan of documentaries and horror, Lore resonates with me on so many levels,” said Hurd. “Season two is shaping up to be scarier and even more compelling and unnerving than our first one!”

“With Sean Crouch at the helm, Lore is set to be scarier than ever. In season two, we will explore global, real-life horror stories that make this series unlike anything else on television. We are thrilled to be back on Prime Video,” said Silverman and Owens.

“From monsters to the macabre, season two is not only the stuff of nightmares…it’s real,” said Jenkins.

Here’s what customers have been saying:

• “The show does a great job weaving together the animation, narration, dramatization, and documentary footage all into one episode.”
• “This is an amazing documentary series for any horror/mystery fan!”
• “One of my favorite shows in a long time.”
• “Amazon and Aaron Mahnke have made a great podcast a great TV show!!”
• “I NEED MORE LORE!!!”
• “I really love this series and can’t recommend it highly enough. Can’t wait for season 2!!”

Launched in March 2015 by Aaron Mahnke, the Lore podcast has generated a massive audience, was named “Best of” in 2015 and 2016 by Apple and was listed as one of the “15 podcasts you need to hear in 2016” by Entertainment Weekly. The first book in Mahnke’s three-book The World of Lore series, Monstrous Creatures,was published in October 2017 by Del Rey Books, with two more volumes to follow in 2018.

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mar. 7, 2018– (NASDAQ: AMZN)–Amazon Studios has closed an exclusive first-look deal with Oscar-winning filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan. The two-year deal for directing and writing will cover both film and television projects.

Lonergan and Amazon Studios worked together last year on the critically acclaimed Manchester by the Sea, which won Lonergan an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and a nomination for Best Director. Manchester by the Sea is available now for streaming and download on Prime Video.

“I’m thrilled to renew my connection to Amazon Studios. They’ve done amazing work wherever they’ve turned their attention, they did a perfect job with Manchester by the Sea, and it’s a pleasure to be in business with them again,” said Lonergan.

“Kenny is one of the finest directors and storytellers of our time,” said Jason Ropell, VP of Worldwide Motion Pictures, Amazon Studios. “Following our successful and memorable partnership on Manchester by the Sea, we are excited to further our relationship and continue supporting his visionary work.”

Lonergan’s upcoming projects include Howards End, a four-part limited series starring Hayley Atwell, and the play “Lobby Hero” starring Chris Evans, Michael Cera, Bel Powley & Brian Tyree Henry, set to premiere on Broadway in March at the Helen Hayes Theater as a Second Stage Production.

Lonergan is represented by WME and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham LLP.