Amazon Studios has landed The Hunt, a vengeance-driven Nazi hunting series executive produced by Oscar-winning Get Out writer-director Jordan Peele, with a 10-episode straight-to-series order. The project, produced by Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Sonar Entertainment, was created by David Weil (Moonfall), who will write and executive produces.
This marks the first new scripted series pickup for Amazon since Jennifer Salke took the reins as head of Amazon Studios.
“Our biggest priority is attracting exceptional writing and producing talent to bring addictive, groundbreaking projects to Prime Video,” said Salke. “The Hunt is edge-of-your seat entertainment that is not only culturally relevant but deliciously original. David Weil, Jordan Peele, and the entire Monkeypaw and Sonar Entertainment teams represent the dream team! We can’t wait to get started!”
Based on an original idea, drawing from real-life events, The Hunt originated as a hot drama series spec, which was taken out to the premium marketplace by Sonar Entertainment last fall, garnering interest from multiple buyers. The company had been in discussion with another network when Amazon recently stepped up and secured the project.
The Hunt follows a diverse band of Nazi Hunters living in 1977 New York City. The Hunters, as they’re known, have discovered that hundreds of high ranking Nazi officials are living among us and conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in the U.S. The eclectic team of Hunters will set out on a bloody quest to bring the Nazis to justice and thwart their new genocidal plans.
“When David Weil first shared The Hunt with me, I immediately knew that we had to be involved,” Peele said. “It’s cathartic. It’s noir. It’s frighteningly relevant. It’s exactly what I want to see on television. I am thrilled to be working with Amazon in bringing this incredible vision to the world.”
The series is also be executive produced by Tom Lesinski (Mr. Mercedes) and Jenna Santoianni (Mr. Mercedes) from Sonar Entertainment, and Win Rosenfeld (Dark Net) from Monkeypaw Productions. A global exclusive, The Hunt will premiere in over 200 countries and territories on Prime Video.
“Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions have exhibited a unique ability to develop content that becomes part of the larger cultural conversation,” said Lesinski, CEO of Sonar Entertainment. “We’re also very excited that The Hunt will be on Amazon, which we feel is the ideal platform for Jordan and David’s amazing story.”
The Hunt stems from a first-look deal Peele and his Monkeypaw Prods. signed with Sonar Entertainment in February 2017.
Monkeypaw Productions was founded by Peele in 2012. In TV, it produced the Emmy-winning Key & Peele on Comedy Central for its five-season run, and also has the breakout Tracy Morgan comedy series at TBS, The Last O.G., which Peele co-created. It was recently renewed for a second season.
Following the blockbuster critical and commercial success of Get Out, which earned him a best original screenplay Oscar, Peele has social horror-thriller Us set for release by Universal in 2019. Peele is repped by CAA and Artists First.
Sonar Entertainment has AMC’s The Son and Audience Network’s Mr. Mercedes.
Source: Deadline
