Amazon MGM Studios Distribution announced a new slate of films and television series, as well as formats with a proven track record to MIPCOM 2024, taking place between October 24 and 27. Just over a year ago, the studio launched the distribution division with the goal of licensing Amazon Original films and series, in addition to MGM Theatrical Slate Films, MGM Television- and MGM+ Studios-produced current series, and library titles to worldwide buyers.
Films being launched for distribution include the comedy “You’re Cordially Invited,” starring Will Ferrell (“Anchorman”) and Reese Witherspoon (“Legally Blonde”), slated to premiere on Prime Video on January 30; Shane Black’s (“The Predator”) crime thriller “Play Dirty,” led by Mark Wahlberg (“Arthur the King”) and LaKeith Stanfield (“Sorry to Bother You”); the sequel to the hit film “A Simple Favor,” with returning cast members Anna Kendrick (“Pitch Perfect”) and Blake Lively (“It Ends With Us”), and director Paul Feig (“Jackpot”); and “Levon’s Trade,” an action thriller starring Jason Statham (“The Beekeeper”), and directed by David Ayer (“Suicide Squad”) from a screenplay adapted by three-time Oscar nominee Sylvester Stallone (“Rocky”).
Amazon MGM Studios Distribution will also bring “Mercy,” the upcoming sci-fi thriller starring Chris Pratt (“The Tomorrow War”) and Rebecca Ferguson (“Dune: Part One”); the film adaptation of Don Winslow’s novella “Crime 101,” starring Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”), Barry Keoghan (“Saltburn”), and Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”) and directed by Bart Layton (“American Animals”); “The Accountant 2,” with a cast led by Oscar-winner Ben Affleck (“AIR”), Jon Bernthal (“The Walking Dead”), Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”), and directed by Gavin O’Connor (“Warrior”); and the heist comedy “The Pickup,” featuring Eddie Murphy (“Coming 2 America”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island”), Keke Palmer (“Nope”), and Eva Longoria (“Land of Women”), and directed by Tim Story (“The Blackening”).
For television, Amazon MGM Studios Distribution will bring the limited-series “Earth Abides” (6x60’) to market. This new take on George R. Stewart’s sci-fi novel of the same name stars Alexander Ludwig (“Vikings”) and Jessica Frances Dukes (“Ozark”). When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction.
Additionally, Amazon MGM Studios Distribution will highlight the sixth and final season of the series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” starring Elizabeth Moss (“The Veil”), Yvonne Strahovski (“Scrambled”), Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing”), Max Minghella (“Shell”), Ann Dowd (“The Exorcist: Believer”), O.T. Fagbenle (“Presumed Innocent”), Samira Wiley (“Orange Is the New Black”), Madeline Brewer (“Separation”), Amanda Brugel (“Dark Matter”), Sam Jaeger (“Devil in Ohio”), Ever Carradine (“The Requiem Boogie”), and Josh Charles (“The Veil”). The final season is currently in production and is slated to premiere in Spring 2025 on Hulu in the U.S.
Rounding out the studio’s slate of MIPCOM titles is the “Gladiators” format. This revitalized format, which sees Gladiators going head-to-head with Contenders in competitions of strength, speed and agility, took the UK by storm earlier this year on BBC One with an incredible 9.8 million viewers (28-day figure) in its first season. A second series was quickly ordered. In addition to the UK version of the show, Prime Video has ordered American Gladiators and TF1 has ordered a French version of the show. Additionally, the “Are You Smarter Than…” format is also available for distribution. This popular format, which has seen success worldwide, introduces a new take on the original concept in the upcoming series “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” hosted by American football star Travis Kelce, a single contestant will rely on a classroom of celebrities from screen and sports to help them answer 11 questions from a range of subjects pulled from elementary curriculum, in an effort to win a prize. “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” will premiere on Prime Video October 16. Finally, Amazon MGM Studios is offering “The GOAT,” a format where 14 reality superstars move into GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Manor to face off in a hilarious competition show in a battle for cash…and the title of Greatest Of All Time. The U.S. version of the show, hosted by Daniel Tosh, streamed on Prime Video.