Amazon Forges Deal with Robert Kirkman, Creator of 'The Walking Dead'
12 August 2017 - 3:03AM
Dow Jones News
By Cara Lombardo
The creator of "The Walking Dead" has agreed to develop new
programming that will air exclusively on Amazon.com Inc.'s
streaming service, the web giant said Friday.
Under the partnership agreement, Amazon will get a first look at
new offerings from Robert Kirkman and the company he cofounded,
Skybound Entertainment.
Mr. Kirkman, whose comic books inspired "The Walking Dead,"
AMC's popular show about zombies, will remain attached to his
existing shows at the cable network, a person familiar with the
deal said. In addition to "The Walking Dead," slated to enter its
eighth season this fall, those include a spinoff called "Fear the
Walking Dead" and a comic-book documentary series.
Amazon has been bolstering original programming on Prime Video,
its streaming service available to Amazon Prime members who pay the
$99 annual fee, in an effort to attract new members. Analysts have
estimated that Prime members spend more than double what nonmembers
spend on Amazon.com.
The company said the deal with Mr. Kirkman comes amid a push to
expand science fiction, fantasy and horror offerings on Prime
Video.
"Robert is a gifted storyteller who shares our passion for
elevated genre storytelling that pushes boundaries," said the head
of event series at Amazon Studios, Sharon Tal Yguado, who also had
a hand in "The Walking Dead."
Mr. Kirkman, whose company has also produced a virtual-reality
series and has plans for another, said in prepared remarks that
working with "a forward-thinking company" with the vast resources
of Amazon would help Skybound further its ambitions to break new
ground in storytelling.
The news comes days after rival streaming service Netflix
announced it had made its first acquisition, purchasing comic-book
publisher Millarworld for between $50 million and $100 million.
Millarworld, founded by Mark Millar, is best known for characters
and stories such as Kick-Ass and Old Man Logan.
Shares in Amazon were up 1.17% midday Friday.
Laura Stevens and Joe Flint contributed to this article.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 11, 2017 12:48 ET (16:48 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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