Amazon Studios signs overall deal with Sharon Horgan
David Farnor | On 16, Jan 2018
Amazon Studios has signed an exclusive overall deal with BAFTA-nominated writer Sharon Horgan.
The women behind such TV gems as Catastrophe and Motherland, Horgan has become one of the most prominent female creators in TV today. Amazon Studios discovered that first-hand, when it snapped up the rights to Catastrophe, which Horgan co-writes and co-stars in with Rob Delaney. The comedy airs on Channel 4 in the UK but is an Amazon Prime Video exclusive in the US.
Horgan received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2016 and is also the creator and executive producer of Divorce.
Now, Amazon Studios has closed an two-year deal with Horgan, as well as a first-look deal with Amazon Studios for her production company, Merman, co-founded with Clelia Mountford. Since its creation three years ago, Merman has continued to produce award-winning television with high calibre talent. Projects include Bliss, Todd Margaret, starring David Cross and Will Arnett, and Divorce, starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
In 2017, Merman opened offices in Los Angeles and New York, alongside a branded entertainment division, headed by Academy and Emmy-nominated producer Kira Carstensen and advertising veteran Jeremy Rainbird.
Amazon Studios will get first-look rights to Merman concepts to which Horgan is attached and remake rights to Merman-produced TV series.
“We are excited to be broadening our collaboration with Sharon Horgan on the heels of her two recently successful series,” says Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Scripted Series, Amazon Studios.
“Sharon Horgan is one of the sharpest and most engaging actresses, writers, and directors working in television today. We are thrilled she is expanding her collaboration with us at Amazon to create new groundbreaking content. Her strong creative voice and storytelling sensibility have resonated with audiences globally and will make for outstanding shows for our Prime members.”
“Amazon is at the forefront of groundbreaking television and Merman is delighted to be part of their remit to create unique content,” comment Horgan and Mountford. “The team at Amazon have supported us since the inception of Catastrophe and we are thrilled to be working together. Also, all the free books and stuff is great.”
The deal follows a similar agreement with Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, as Amazon promisingly shows support for some of TV’s strongest female talent.