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Brie Larson will star in a CIA drama for Apple
In addition to taking on the role of Captain Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brie Larson is also going to become a top line star for Apple's upcoming lineup of original content. According to Variety she has signed on to star in and executive produce a currently untitled series that will place her in the role of a CIA agent. The show will be based on a yet-to-be-published memoir from former CIA spy Amaryllis Fox.
Amazon unleashes 'Pilot Season' with 14 original shows
Amazon's been doing plenty of talking around its original programming, but now the site's ready to show us the goods. The mega-retailer this morning has made available pilot episodes for 14 new original series, crowdsourcing its programming block by soliciting viewer feedback. Head on over to the source link below to watch the likes of Onion News Empire, Betas and Zombieland, among others, as well as a handful of kids shows. The page also includes a link for feedback, so you can finally become the professional web TV exec you've always dreamed of.
Hulu showcases three new original shows for summer, renews exclusives
Ever wonder what's going on behind the soulless eyes of your favorite sport franchise's mascot? Hulu can clue you in this this summer -- its new original series Behind the Mask promises to chronicle the life of basketball's most cartoonish cheerleaders, from high school newbies to the NBA's seasoned pros. It's one of three original shows the streaming network is debuting this year, including The Awesomes, an animated comedy following the misadventures of a fledgling superhero team, and The Wrong Mans, a comedy that thrusts a pair of office drones into a high stakes thriller. Hulu's wealth of exclusive content is getting some additions too, including Braquo, a crime drama set in Paris and a new animated comedy starring Eva Longoria, dubbed Mother Up! Service favorites like Prisoners of War and Pramface are seeing renewals too. Read on for a peek at Hulu's full summer line up, or skip on over to the streaming service's homepage to check out the previews for yourself.
Twitter rumored to be pitching in-feed video shows to studios
Twitter has been making a giant push for expanded tweets from content providers. It's only a short logical leap from that to Twitter providing the content itself, and that's exactly what AdWeek claims may well happen. Its unconfirmed tipsters have the microblog taking a page from YouTube by pitching Hollywood movie and TV studios on "several" original shows that would live in followers' feeds, including the seemingly inescapable reality show. While Twitter wouldn't have someone in the director's chair, it might still play a role by letting viewers affect the show as it's happening -- and of course, running ads. Silence is the only official response to the rumor from Twitter so far; don't plan your viewing schedule just yet, but do brace yourself in case Twitter breaks out a Horse ebooks cameo to boost ratings in mid-season.
Hulu delivers 10 new original shows for summer, iOS app update with iPad retina display support
As the temperatures heat up, the availability of new network TV programming is falling off as it does every year, and Hulu is taking advantage of the lull to amp up its offerings of original content with ten new shows this summer. The shows include selections like Kevin Smith's Spoilers which is a chat about the summer's films, travel series Up To Speed and playground basketball comedy We Got Next. All ten shows are set to debut throughout the summer on both the free Hulu and paid Hulu Plus services. One thing subscribers don't have to wait for however, is a freshly updated version of the Hulu Plus app for iOS, which features a "re-engineered, optimized video player", new iPad GUI, support for retina display on the iPad and improved handling of AirPlay mirroring and HDMI video out. Version 2.5 can be found on iTunes, while a press release with details on all ten shows and video trailer are embedded after the break.
Hulu announces first original scripted show 'Battleground', plus more proprietary programming
2011 treated Hulu pretty well it seems, and it's clearly hoping new original content will make for an even better 2012. For starters, the service will be parading its first original scripted series, political drama Battleground, while fans of Morgan Spurlock's Hulu-only A day in the life will be pleased to see it return for a second season. More docu-fun comes in the form of unorthodox city-tour series Up to Speed, from Dazed and Confused director Richard Linklater. Battleground hits screens this Valentine's day, and Morgan returns in March. You'll have to wait until summer for Up to Speed, but at least you'll have plenty more Face Match fodder in the meantime. Hit the PR over the jump for the official blurb on the new shows.
Netflix queues S1 of its original production 'Lilyhammer' for streaming February 6th
While Netflix has already announced original productions like House of Cards and a new season of Arrested Development it has commissioned for its streaming video service, the first to debut will be Lilyhammer next month. Starring Steve Van Zandt of the E Street Band and The Sopranos, it follows a mobster in witness protection who moves to Lillehammer, Norway, chasing dreams of clean air and gorgeous women. Naturally, it doesn't quite work out like that, but in an interesting twist Netflix will let you find out how it does work out all in one shot. Unlike most linear channels, and even Hulu's original programming efforts like The Confession, Netflix will post the entire season all at once (and in all of its territories -- US, Canada and Latin America) just like it does with older material. Of course, Netflix has a lot of ground to make up after its missteps last year, so perhaps extending its usual policy customers watch video when, where and how they want to content release timing is just the kind of bonus needed. Until it's available however, we'll have to live with the press release and trailer, both of which are included after the break.
Microsoft on the hunt for original programming head, eyes ex-NBC execs
It's not MSNBC, it's MSex-NBC. Or it very well could be, as Bloomberg reports a second marriage of sorts is purportedly on deck for Microsoft and two former Peacock execs, Marc Graboff and Jeff Gaspin. Redmond's already made public plans to expand its Xbox Live streaming platform beyond VOD and into live TV, having announced a trio of content partners at this year's E3, so news of an in-house original programming push comes as no surprise. While it remains to be seen just what types of series, scripted or otherwise, are in the works, the company appears willing to press pause on the entire initiative should a suitable candidate fail to materialize. That's all the rumor mill's wrought for now, folks, but we'll keep you posted on this as it develops. And no, a certain Ms. Maddow likely won't be coming soon to an Xbox 360 near you.
Bloomberg: Microsoft to create its own TV programming for Xbox Live
Microsoft's streaming television service in the US is still in its infancy, but the company reportedly has plans to greatly expand it in the coming months, even introducing its own programming. Bloomberg reports that Microsoft is currently on the hunt for a television exec to handle said original programming, with two ex-NBC suits named as potential candidates (Marc Graboff and Jess Gaspin). No details are given on what kind of content the company might provide, though the report says it will be paired with the already existing streaming offerings. Microsoft already dips its toe into original programming via the Xbox Live Dashboard (Major's Minute, Xbox 101, etc.), and hosts partners for promotional tie-in videos (IGN) alongside streaming services like Crackle, HBO Go, and the Zune Marketplace. The company also worked in the past with NBC on the network "MSNBC," though Microsoft later exited the partnership. The Redmond, WA-based company isn't offering any comment at this time regarding the report.
Odyssey: Driving Around the World to make US debut in HD on DirecTV's The 101
DirecTV has been queuing up series for its exclusive The 101 channel for some time now, but if you were curious as to when the next would arrive, here's your sign. Defiance Entertainment's Odyssey: Driving Around the World is all set to make its US debut on said network, as it ventures to take viewers across "four continents and two oceans, all to raise money and awareness for Parkinson's disease." The show attempts to integrate "extreme adventure travel with social responsibility," and will touch down in places such as Costa Rica, Macchu Picchu, Argentina, Australia and Myanmar (just to name a few). Travel junkies, set your HD DVRs -- the 13-episode series takes off on June 5th at 8:00PM ET.
