Amazon Prime Video India Plots 40-Strong TV And Film Originals Mega-Slate; Unveils TVoD Movie Rental Service

In a move that may foretell the future of movie releases, Amazon has switched up its release for Ron Howard‘s latest film, “Thirteen Lives.” Initially set for a November 18 wide release later this year through MGM, those plans switched up after Amazon finalized its purchase of the Hollywood studio for $8.5 billion this March. READ MORE: Amazon Secures $8.45 Billion Deal To Acquire MGM Now, instead of a wide fall release, “Thirteen Lives” gets a limited theatrical release this summer before it quickly debuts on Amazon Prime Video.

AmazonPrime Video is up for the challenge. May’s collection has something for everyone, whether it be big-hearted comedies, classic ‘90s dramas or critically-acclaimed indies.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Prime has quietly picked up domestic rights to UK boxing movie Prizefighter: The Life Of Jem Belcher.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentMiguel Bernardeau, Guzmán in Netflix smash hit “Elite,” and Mexico’s Renata Notni will head the cast of “Zorro,” a reboot series from Los Angeles-based Secuoya Studios and John Gertz that will stream in exclusivity on Amazon’s Prime Video in the U.S., Latin America and Spain. The flagship series at Secuoya Studios, “Zorro,” a modern take on the hero, is directed by Javier Quintas, whose credits include episodes of “Money Heist” and “Sky Rojo,” and Miguel Angel Vivas, a director on “Locked Up” and “Unauthorized Living.” Written by Carlos Portela (“Hierro,” “Velvet Collection”), the 10 episode series is executive produced for Secuoya Studios by David Martínez, David Cotarelo and Angela Agudo.  John Gertz, founder of Zorro Productions and a producer on “The Mask of Zorro” and “The Legend of Zorro” movies titles, also executive produces along with former Sony exec Andy Kaplan at KC Global Media, Sergio Pizzolante for C&T Mobs, and Jesús Torres and Glenda Pacanins at NoStatusQuo Studios.Bernardeau will play a new version of Diego de la Vega, a landowner and, in disguise, masked hero of the people.

EXCLUSIVE: Production starts today in Vancouver on the new Prime Video and Blumhouse Television slasher-comedy horror feature Totally Killer starring Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Mad Men), Olivia Holt (Cruel Summer), Julie Bowen (Modern Family, Life of the Party), and Randall Park (Always Be My Maybe, Fresh off the Boat).

Sasha Urban editorSci-fi comedy series “Upload” will return for Season 3, Amazon Studios announced Wednesday. From writer Greg Daniels (“The Office”), Season 2 of the series has remained in Amazon Prime Video’s Top 10 series list since it premiered on March 11.Set in a future where humans can choose to be “uploaded” into a cyber afterlife, “Upload” returned for Season 2 with its main character, Nathan, at a crossroads: his ex-girlfriend Ingrid has arrived in the afterworld of Lakeview, while Nathan yearns for his “customer service angel” Nora.“’Upload’ has become a bonafide hit that continues to be one of the most watched comedy originals on Prime Video,” said Vernon Sanders, head of global television at Amazon Studios.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series at Amazon is wrapping up with four seasons.

Amazon’s The Underground Railroad has been revealed as surprise winner of the prestigious BAFTA TV Award for Best International.

Shortbus has been banned on Amazon Prime Video.The film, originally released in 2007, has been rejected five times by the streaming platform when submitted by indie distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories, according to IndieWire.Prime Video reportedly rejected the film because the “captions are out of sync” as well as it featuring “offensive content”. The publishing error from the streamer reads:  “We aren’t making your title available on Prime Video as it violates our Content Policy Guidelines.”Oscilloscope president Dan Berger told IndieWire the distributor felt a “prudishness” and “utter hypocrisy” from Amazon.“The prudishness and utter hypocrisy of refusing to carry this film — one that is the height of healthy representation, inclusiveness, and support for a community often persecuted — only further perpetuates abuse and they should be ashamed,” he said.On Instagram, Oscilloscope Laboratories wrote: “SHORTBUS is the movie @jeffbezos doesn’t want you to see! Despite there being plenty of other films on Prime with dicks & real sex, #ShortbusMovie has been BANNED from the platform.“So if you want to watch @johncameronmitchell’s 2006 masterpiece in stunning 4K, please do so via a more open-minded VOD service.”A post shared by Oscilloscope Laboratories (@oscopelabs)Shortbus premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006, but was previously only available to stream on PornHub.The film features unsimulated sex, but IndieWire pointed out that Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac and Brown Bunny directed by Vincent Gallo, two films streaming on Prime Video, also do.

Prime Video, the streamer announced today.“We’re excited to introduce a new slate of addictive, entertaining reality programming that celebrates love and relationships in all forms,” said Vernon Sanders, head of global television at Amazon Studios. “Through past connections and astrology, ‘The One That Got Away’ and ‘Cosmic Love’ are dating shows that give audiences unique and fresh takes on finding the perfect match.

Streaming platforms are set to be regulated like linear broadcasters for the first time, under the UK Government’s new plans, set out in a ‘White Paper’ policy document revealed this week.

Amazon’s top U.S. and international execs are banking on even bigger things in India after launching the streamer’s biggest ever slate in the country.

Naman Ramachandran Amazon Prime Video pulled out the heavy international artillery to launch a massive Indian slate on Thursday. They are bullish about the market.Kelly Day, VP of international, Amazon Prime Video, said at a round table during the event: “The future of global streaming services is really about global expansion, and moving much more ambitiously, to serving customers in our international markets all over the world.

Naman Ramachandran Amazon Prime Video India is betting big on India. At a marquee event in Mumbai the streamer announced that it will more than double its investment in Prime Video India over the next five years and revealed a 40-strong slate, its biggest to date in the country.The titles are in the Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages, across new and returning scripted and unscripted original series and co-productions, streaming over the next 24 months.

Though news of Elon Musk buying Twitter just broke, the jokes are already stale.

EXCLUSIVE: Actor, singer, and producer Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages, Luis Miguel: The Series) and his production company Three Amigos have signed an overall deal with Prime Video.

Prime Video you haven’t seen before, below we’ve rounded up a list of some new titles added in April that are well worth checking out, from a variety of genres that include classic films, acerbic comedies and Oscar-nominated sci-fi.Check out our list of the best new movies on Amazon Prime Video in April 2022 below.If it’s sci-fi you’re in the mood for, 2009 Best Picture nominee “District 9” offers something unique and throught-provoking. The film from director Neill Blomkamp takes place years after an alien spaceship landed over South Africa, bringing with it over one million malnourished aliens.

A second season of the psychological mystery drama Undone is coming to Amazon Prime Video.

It looks like “Outer Range” isn’t the only supernatural show coming to Amazon Prime this Fall. That series, about a Wyoming community that stumbles upon strangeness out in the woods, already has hype to spare.