Amazon Studios Greenlights Comedic Apocalyptic Limited Series Good Omens
The six-part adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s and Terry Pratchett’s novel
about a battle to stop the apocalypse will debut in 2018 on Prime Video
in more than 200 countries and territories
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon Studios today announced it has greenlit Good
Omens, an hour-long limited comedy series based on Neil
Gaiman’s (American Gods) and Terry
Pratchett’s (Colour of Magic)
acclaimed novel of the same name. Set to debut in 2018 on Prime Video, Good
Omens is a six-part series that has been entirely written by Gaiman,
who will also serve as Showrunner. BBC Studios is co-producing the
series with Narrativia and The Blank Corporation and in association with
BBC Worldwide for Amazon Prime Video and the BBC.
Good Omens will be a global release and available exclusively on
Amazon Prime Video for members to watch via the Prime Video app for
popular smart TVs, Fire TV, Fire Tablets and Android and iOS phones and
tablets. The show will also be available on PrimeVideo.com for Prime
Video members in more than 200 countries and territories. The show will
also broadcast on the BBC in the UK, following its premiere on Prime
Video.
Good Omens takes place in 2018 when the Apocalypse is near and
Final Judgment is set to descend upon humanity. According to The Nice
and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter Witch (the world’s only
completely accurate book of prophecies), the world will end on a
Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.
So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, and
tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine
Plan. Except Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a
fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth’s mortals since
The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not
actually looking forward to the coming war. And…someone seems to have
misplaced the Antichrist.
“Spanning not only the universe but also the entirety of time, Neil
Gaiman has created a story that may be the largest ever told on
television,” said Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy and Drama, Amazon Studios.
“We’re excited to be working with BBC Studios to bring Neil’s and
Terry Pratchett’s incredible book to life and to Prime members
everywhere.”
Neil Gaiman, writer, said: “Almost thirty years ago, Terry Pratchett and
I wrote the funniest novel we could about the end of the world,
populated with angels and demons, not to mention an eleven-year-old
Antichrist, witchfinders and the four horsepeople of the Apocalypse. It
became many people’s favourite book. Three decades later, it’s going to
make it to the screen. I can’t think of anyone we’d rather make it with
than BBC Studios, and I just wish Sir Terry were alive to see it.”
Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy, BBC Studios, said: “Good Omens has
always been one of my favourite books, and it’s hugely exciting not just
to be able to bring it to life, but to do so with scripts from Neil
Gaiman himself. It feels like a good time to be making a comedy about an
impending global apocalypse.”
Executive Producers of the series are Neil Gaiman, Caroline
Skinner (Doctor Who), and Chris
Sussman (Fleabag) for BBC Studios, Rob Wilkins (Choosing
to Die) and Rod Brown (Going Postal) for Narrativia. Gaiman
will adapt the novel for the screen.
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About the authors
Neil Gaiman is the award-winning author of books, graphic novels, short
stories, and films for all ages, including the Oscar-nominated Coraline.
Some of his most notable titles include the groundbreaking Sandman
comics series, The Graveyard Book (the only book ever to win both
the Newbery and Carnegie medals), and The Ocean at the End of the Lane,
the UK’s National Book Award 2013 Book of the Year. The film adaptation
of his short story How to Talk to Girls at Parties and the
television adaptation of his novel American Gods will be released
in 2017. Born in the UK, he now lives in the United States.
Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling
Discworld series, the first of which—The Colour of Magic—was published
in 1983. As a young journalist, Neil Gaiman was the first person ever to
interview him. Terry’s books have been widely adapted for stage and
screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie
Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for literature. He died in
March 2015.
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios is the BBC’s main TV production arm, producing bold,
British, creative content for audiences in the UK and around the world,
across drama, comedy, entertainment, music, events and factual, as well
as radio and digital output. From Strictly Come Dancing, Planet Earth II
and Doctor Who, to War and Peace, Top Gear and David Bowie: The Last
Five Years, their programmes are renowned for their quality and loved by
viewers. With bases across the nations and regions of the UK, BBC
Studios reflects and represents diverse voices and creative talent from
all around the country. BBC Studios is set to launch as a wholly-owned
subsidiary in 2017.
About Narrativia
Narrativia is an independent production company, launched in 2012 by Sir
Terry Pratchett. The company owns and controls the exclusive multimedia
and merchandising rights to all of Sir Terry’s works, including his
Discworld characters and creations. With more than 85 million books sold
worldwide, Pratchett’s writing has created a literary phenomenon across
the globe and Narrativia protects and unites the management and
development of this brand. The Executive Team, headed by Managing
Director and BAFTA winning producer Rod Brown, is based in London, where
he works closely with co-directors, celebrated writer Rhianna Pratchett
and Terry Pratchett’s Business Manager, Rob Wilkins, who all jointly own
and control Narrativia. www.Narrativia.com
About BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide will distribute first-run rights to Good Omens in
territories where there is no Prime Video and second-run rights
internationally.
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build
the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across
the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and
showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is
consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions
British creativity globally.
In 2015/16 BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £133.8m and
headline sales of £1,029.4m and returned £222.2m to the BBC.
For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review
webpage: bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/.
bbcworldwide.com
twitter.com/bbcwpress
Contacts
Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr
