J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Launches Podcast Division, Inks Spotify First-Look Deal

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentITV has revealed a first look at “Romulus 2,” the second season of Cattleya’s innovative Rome origins skein enacted in archaic Latin.The outfit is also launching global sales on the series, which has just wrapped shooting and is being touted as more “fast paced and in your face” than the first instalment, as Lisa Perrin, the company’s chief of international productions, puts it.The first season of the lavish Sky Italy original produced by Sky and

Imagine Entertainment is launching a podcast division and has struck a deal with iHeartMedia.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterImagine Entertainment is launching a new audio division tied to an exclusive deal with iHeartMedia.The film and TV company’s chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard announced Tuesday that Imagine will co-produce a slate of unscripted podcasts for the digital giant.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentMauricio Ochmann, one of the biggest stars in the Latino world, has signed a multiyear first look deal with Pantaya, the leading premium Spanish-language streaming service.Under the terms of the deal, actor-producer Ochmann will develop and executive produce a slate of original films and TV series for the company.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorIn today’s podcast roundup, Spotify and Apple have released their year-end rankings and lists of the top podcasts of 2021, among other news from the world of audio entertainment.Spotify revealed the most popular podcasts on its platform for 2021 — with controversial talk show “The Joe Rogan Experience” taking the No. 1 slot globally.

The graphic novel Alliances: Orphans, written by Stan Lee, Luke Lieberman and Ryan Silbert, will be showcased at a panel today at 5:30pm PT at San Diego Comic-Con’s “Special Edition.”

JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot is moving into the audio space.

Selome Hailu editorNetflix announced a new first look deal with Magic Quill Productions, the new writers’ collective formed by writers and executive producers Joe Henderson, Georgia Lee and Matt Owens.As a production company, Magic Quill will prioritize writers while centering high concept genre stories.

Netflix today announced a first-look series deal with Magic Quill Productions, a writers collective launched by writers/executive producers behind three Netflix drama series, Joe Henderson, Georgia Lee and Matt Owens.

Selome Hailu editorJulie Bowen, the actor who starred as Claire Dunphy in “Modern Family,” has signed a first-look deal with Universal Television for her production company Bowen & Sons.

Emma Brooker and Faye Windass' year is set to get off to a dramatic start as first look pictures show.

Grimes has formed an “AI girl group” named NPC, which she’s premiered today through a collaboration with producer and DJ Chris Lake titled ‘A Drug From God’.According to a press release, the virtual group has infinite members that “can be voted in or out, except for core members such as the baby Warnymph”.The project will serve as “a vehicle for experimentation in new technologies as they become available”, such as “generative characters and music, [different] types of animation, AI-assisted art

EXCLUSIVE: Harrison Land is leaving In Pursuit with John Walsh producer Jupiter Entertainment to set up his own production company.

“Downton Abbey: A New Era” is coming soon.

The first look photos from Downton Abbey: A New Era have just been revealed online, along with a short teaser clip!

EXCLUSIVE: Manolo Cardona and his brother Juancho’s production company 11:11 Films & TV has signed a first-look deal with VIS, a division of ViacomCBS. The agreement will encompass creating and developing content including series, films, and special-format programs for a global audience.

A War director and Borgen writer Tobias Lindholm has struck a first-look deal with Chernobyl producer Sister and has set a Jeremy Strong-fronted 9/11 responders drama as his first project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSister has signed a first-look TV deal with producer, writer, and director Tobias Lindholm.Lindholm has already set up his first project for development under the deal — the limited series “The Best of Us,” with “Succession” star Jeremy Strong attached to star.“We are fortunate to have Jeremy as a partner with Tobias on ‘The Best of Us;’ and we look forward to their thoughtful and human depiction of those heroes that serve on the frontlines for the greater good,” said

Bodyguard creator Jed Mercurio and his HTM Television partner, Episodes and Flack producer Jimmy Mulville, have struck a first-look deal with 20th Television.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJed Mercurio and Jimmy Mulville’s HTM Television has signed a multi-year first-look deal with 20th Television.Mercurio’s latest series, “Bodyguard” and “Line of Duty,” have both broke ratings records for UK television drama.