David Farnor | On 20, Feb 2021

Donald Glover has inked an overall deal with Amazon Studios.

The multi-hyphenate Atlanta creator who recently stole the show in Solo: A Star Wars Story as Lando Calrissian, is hot property on the film, TV and music scene. He has previously had a home at Disney-owned FX, which broadcast Atlanta.

In recent years, though, he has also teamed up with Amazon Prime Video, with his movie Guava Island debuting on the streaming service in 2019. Pitched as “an expansion of Glover’s idea of freedom, in creative and business terms”, the film was directed by Hiro Murai (Atlanta), written by Stephen Glover (Atlanta) and based on a story by Royalty. It co-starred Rihanna, Nonso Anozie (Cinderella) and Letitia Wright (Black Panther), and followed a local musician throwing a festival for everyone to enjoy.

Last week, it was announced that Donald Glover would be reuniting with Solo co-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Mr and Mrs Smith, a new series for Amazon Prime Video based on the 2005 spy flick. The show, co-created by Atlanta writer and producer Francesca Sloane, comes from New Regency and Amazon Studios. Both Waller-Bridge and Sloane have their own overall deals with the online giant.

Now, Deadline and THR report that Donald has signed a multi-year agreement with Amazon Studios as well. They also report that Malia Obama has joined the writers’ room of one of his initial projects at the studio, described as “a Janine Nabers project about a Beyonce-like figure”.

The deal reportedly runs to an eight-figure sum, and may include a content channel within Amazon Prime Video to spotlight Glover’s work and other curated titles.

Add to Watchlist