By Richard Middleton
Amazon will “reimagine and develop” IP from the MGM slate following its $8.45bn deal for the US studio, according to CEO Jeff Bezos.
The acquisition, which was confirmed yesterday, will see more than 17,000 hours of MGM TV fall under the Amazon banner, ranging from dramas such as Fargo and The Handmaid’s Tale to unscripted series including Shark Tank, Vanderpump Rules and The Hills.
‘Acquisition thesis’
The studio is also home to the James Bond, Rocky and Pink Panther franchises, and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos described the “acquisition thesis” as “very simple”.
“MGM has a vast, deep catalogue of much beloved intellectual property. With the talent at Amazon and MGM Studios, we can reimagine and develop that IP for the 21st Century.”
Bezos – who said “people who love stories” would be beneficiaries of the deal – was talking during Amazon’s annual shareholder meeting, when it was also confirmed that Andy Jassy would become CEO of the retail giant from 5 July.
Amazon recently rejigged its global entertainment interests under Jeff Blackburn, another sign of its increased focus on content. The focus on “reimagining” existing IP, meanwhile, doubles down on comments from Amazon Studios’ SVP of Prime Video Mike Hopkins yesterday, following confirmation of the acquisition.
Further fall-out
