12 original shows in the works at Apple
Apple has big plans for competing directly with Netflix and Amazon, with a slate of original TV programming in multiple genres currently in the works. Apple says it will spend $1 billion on original content in 2018 alone. None of these projects have premiered yet, but here are a dozen promising shows the tech giant has announced so far.
1. "Amazing Stories": Stephen Spielberg will executive-produce the revival of "Amazing Stories," the science fiction and horror anthology he co-created for NBC that ran for two seasons in the 1980s.
2. "Are You Sleeping": Based on Kathleen Barber's novel of the same name, the series follows investigative reporter Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) as she follows an old murder case through her podcast, thus exploring America's obsession with true-crime podcasts. Aaron Paul and Lizzy Caplan co-star, with Reese Witherspoon aboard as an executive producer.
3. "Central Park": Josh Gad and Loren Bouchard are set to produce this animated musical series about a family of caretakers who live and work in — and end up saving — Central Park. Voice talent includes "Frozen" star Kristen Bell and "Hamilton" stars Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr.
4. "Dickinson": This coming-of-age comedy series takes place in the world of poet Emily Dickinson, exploring the constraints of society, gender and family she faced as a budding writer. The show is written by Alena Smith and directed by David Cordon Green. The cast includes "True Grit" star Hailee Steinfeld.
5. "Little America": Dedicated to the stories of immigrants in America, this show will be written and executive-produced by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, the husband-wife team behind the 2017 romantic comedy hit "The Big Sick."
6. "See": Best known for directing "Red Sparrow" and the final three "Hunger Games" films, Francis Lawrence will direct and produce this new futuristic, world-building drama.
7. Untitled morning-show drama: Taking an inside look at the world of morning TV, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston will executive-produce and star. Witherspoon comes to this off her hit HBO drama "Big Little Lies," and Aniston returns to TV in a major role for the first time since her hit sitcom "Friends."
8. Untitled Damien Chazelle project: Chazelle, who became the youngest person ever to nab an Academy Award for Best Director when he won for "La La Land," will write, direct and produce a one-hour drama for Apple, alongside executive producers Jordan Horowitz and Frank Berger.
9. Untitled M. Night Shyamalan project: The "Sixth Sense" and "Glass" director will executive-produce this psychological thriller, with Tony Basgallop writing.
10. Untitled Ronald D. Moore project: The "Outlander" and "Battlestar Galactica" showrunner created and will write and produce the science fiction drama, premised on the idea that the Space Race of the Cold War never ended.
11. Untitled Curtis Sittenfeld project: This half-hour comedy series is inspired by Sittenfeld's upcoming short-story collection, "You Think It, I'll Say It." Colleen McGuinness serves as showrunner, with Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter as executive producers.
12. Sesame Workshop project: Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and educational organization behind "Sesame Street," will create shows for Apple, including a live-action and animated series and a puppet series, to lead Apple's charge into children's programming.
THE WRAP
