Ex-Top Gear trio “very, very, very expensive”
“They’re worth a lot and they know it," Amazon boss says of Clarkson, Hammond & May.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
No surprises in learning that the deal to secure Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May did not come cheap to Amazon streaming service.
Just how expensive founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos isn’t saying.
But he did tell The Telegraph, the show will be “very, very, very expensive.”
“They’re worth a lot and they know it,” he said.
Amazon, also has original shows such as Transparent and Ripper Street (following its BBC axing).
Asked if Clarkson’s new show would come to define Amazon Prime, Bezos says: “It can’t just be one show, it has to be a number of things. We have a lot of things in the pipeline, which I think viewers in the UK and around the world are going to love. And I think Clarkson’s new show is going to be one of those.
“I think we’re in a golden age of television, so if you go back in time even just five years, you couldn’t get A-list talent to do TV serials, or, if you could, it was a rare thing. But that’s flipped completely.”
As yet there is no confirmed title for the Clarkson / Hammond / May vehicle nor who will pick up the Australian rights (clearly they will not come cheap).
Amazon Studio titles Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle have premiered in Australia on Stan.
Share
- Tagged with Mozart in the Jungle, Ripper Street, Transparent
10 Responses
Squeeze the money tree for all it’s worth boys!
Personally, I think it went to their heads. Top Gear got way less interesting over time as the ego of these three increased. Arrogant, so arrogant.
I agree that we’re in a golden age of television. I think a big part of that is because Hollywood is making such awful, mindless, uninspired rubbish and a significant number of top talent, both in front of and behind the camera, are being attracted by the quality of the scripts for the better TV dramas.
So true – Hollywood just seems to be going through the Marvel back catalogue, remaking movies from less than a decade ago and turning every film into a multi-film franchise whether it warrants it enough.
Movies can throw a spotlight on a character but to really develop and understand a character a TV series is usually a much better option.
I’m sure we will get it here but the question is will it be through Amazon or some other paid service including Foxtel. I’m pretty sure it won’t be on FTA first.
One of the characters did a very bad thing and now is being rewarded. On the other hand I will look forward to top gears comeback. Come on ch10, get the cheque book out. Masterchef could run a couple of cake stalls to pay for it.
Rumour had it they are getting 20x the budget the BBC gave them. That seems exaggerated, but I can certainly imagine some kind of substantial increase in funds and freedom will be provided.
David, Bosch has never been on Stan. It would be great if Stan picked up the new show.
Ah yes, I was thinking of DIG which went to SBS.
It would be a shame if they didn’t make it onto “normal” tv. If one of the big channels picked it up and treated it well (same timeslot each week etc) then it could rate really well.
“same timeslot each week etc” Well that would never happen!