Robert Kirkman, the man behind The Walking Dead, and his Skybound Entertainment company have exited their overall deal with longtime home AMC. They are moving on to what the Hollywood Reporter calls a sizable two-year overall deal with Amazon Studios.
Kirkman will develop TV projects exclusively for Amazon’s Prime Video platform under the new pact.
Amazon’s Prime Video platform will also have a first-look deal with Skybound. Bryan and Sean Furst, Skybound co-presidents of film and television, will oversee the Amazon project slate, working with Kirkman, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
Kirkman will be reunited with Sharon Tal Yguado, who supervised the worldwide rollout of The Walking Dead. She joined Amazon in January as the head of event series with a focus on “science fiction, action, fantasy and horror series,” writes The Hollywood Reporter.
“At Skybound Entertainment we strive to tell the best stories in the most unique and creative ways in an effort to always break new ground,” Kirkman said to The Hollywood Reporter about the move. “A forward-thinking company like Amazon is the perfect home for us. Their new foray into genre fiction has us at peak optimism for what can be accomplished during this unprecedented partnership.
The Walking Dead is TV’s number one scripted drama among the adult demographic of 18-49 year olds and a billion dollar franchise. This makes Kirkman a “big get” for Amazon. It is a blow to AMC, who signed Kirkman to his first overall deal back in 2015.
The Walking Dead is in its eighth season and now there is a spinoff, Fear of the Walking Dead.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.