VOD News | On 02, Nov 2018

Barry Jenkins has signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios through his production banner, PASTEL.

Jenkins, who won an Oscar for Moonlight and is on good course to do the same again for the upcoming film If Beale Street Could Talk, is no stranger to Amazon Studios. The online giant commissioned an adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad last year from Jenkins’ Pastel Productions. Since then, the Moonlight helmer has confirmed that he will direct every episode of the project, which chronicles the journey of young slave called Cora, who escaoes from a cotton plantation in Georgia and comes across a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil used by slaves to journey to freedom.

Now, Jenkins and Amazon are strengthening their relationship, with Pastel signing a deal to exclusively develop TV series for Amazon Prime Video.

“Barry is clearly a master of groundbreaking, authentically emotional storytelling and we are so proud to have him share that gift with us,” says Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “We are incredibly fortunate to have also secured his directorial vision for the entire limited series The Underground Railroad.”

“We at PASTEL are excited to continue our Amazon relationship begun on Underground Railroad and look forward to growing that partnership on projects near and beyond,” adds Jenkins.

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