Amazon Signs Overall Deal With ‘The Walking Dead’s’ Robert Kirkman
If you’re a fan of Robert Kirkman’s comic book work, now might be a good time to go get yourself an Amazon Prime subscription, as Amazon today announced it has closed an overall deal with ‘The Walking Dead‘ creator, and a first-look deal with his production company Skybound Entertainment.
Whilst this doesn’t affect the current deal Kirkman and Skybound have with AMC for ‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ and ‘Outcast’, it does mean any future television projects will debut exclusively on Prime Video. It also will not effect current international sales where Fox currently has the exclusive rights to ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘Outcast’. ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ currently premieres on AMC UK, before coming later to Amazon Prime UK.
This collaboration comes on the heels of Amazon Studios’ new expanded push into science fiction, fantasy and horror programming. Skybound Entertainment’s co-presidents of film and television, Bryan and Sean Furst, will oversee the Amazon project slate in conjunction with Kirkman and Skybound’s co-founder David Alpert.
“Robert is a gifted storyteller who shares our passion for elevated genre storytelling that pushes boundaries,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Event Series, Amazon Studios. “Robert and the team at Skybound are some of the most innovative and fearless creatives in the business. Together, we plan to explore immersive worlds and bold ideas for Prime Video.”
“At Skybound Entertainment we strive to tell the best stories in the most unique and creative ways in an effort to always break new ground,” adds Kirkman. “A forward thinking company like Amazon is the perfect home for us. Their new foray into genre fiction has us at peak optimism for what can be accomplished during this unprecedented partnership. Sharon Tal Yguado has been an instrumental force in the success of Walking Dead and Outcast from day one. Being able to not only continue that relationship, but also expand it into new territory with the vast resources of Amazon, means great things are ahead for myself, David Alpert, Skybound and fans of awesome entertainment. Look out world, here we come!”
First and foremost a comic creator, Kirkman has seen groundbreaking success in the adaptation of his comic book titles into major franchises in all forms of content. In 2010, his Eisner award winning series, ‘The Walking Dead’, was developed into an AMC television series. It has become a worldwide phenomenon as the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time and is the #1 show on television among the coveted 18-49 demographic. The property has also been extended into a blockbuster game franchise, licensing business and ongoing publishing success. Kirkman also serves as consulting producer of ‘The Talking Dead’, the popular talk show hosted by Chris Hardwick.
Kirkman is co-creator, writer and producer of The Walking Dead’s companion series, ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. He is also executive producer of the AMC series ‘Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics’, and the pre-apocalyptic drama, ‘Five Year’, that is being developed for multiple territories including Germany, India, Brazil, and Italy. Kirkman’s popular demonic-exorcism comic, ‘Outcast’, was adapted, produced and airs on Cinemax in the US, and Fox in the UK.
For the big screen, Kirkman will produce ‘Invincible’ based on his long-running popular comic book. The project will be written, directed and produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg for Universal Pictures. Other credits include ‘AIR’ featuring Norman Reedus and Academy Award nominee, Djimon Hounsou. Additional Kirkman comics include ‘Super Dinosaur’, ‘Battle Pope’, ‘Astounding Wolf-Man’, and ‘Thief of Thieves’.
