Apple has made a deal with Steven Spielberg, Amblin Television, and Universal Television to make new episodes of “Amazing Stories,” The Wall Street Journal reports. The popular sci-fi/horror series ran on NBC in the ‘80s, and sources familiar with the discussions said Apple will be creating 10 new episodes at a price tag of over $5 million each. One executive involved in the project said that level of spending is on par with higher-end shows currently being produced by HBO and Netflix, so Apple is betting heavily on its first jump into original programming.
Apple has also cut ties to another high-profile video project, pulling out of an Elvis Presley biopic series produced by Harvey Weinstein’s company after allegations of sex abuse against the Hollywood mogul came to light. Deadline reports the project was in its early stages, set up before Apple brought in Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg to head up its video projects and likely more in line with the video content that’s found a home on Apple Music. Sources said the Elvis project could have led to other series’ about Prince, Michael Jackson and other music legends, but The Weinstein Company has been forced to move on to other suitors after Apple exercised a “key man” clause in the contract to pull out of the deal after Weinstein’s company gave him the boot.