J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Nears $500 Million Overall Deal With WarnerMedia: Report

It would bring his film business to Warner Bros.

By Akhil Arora | Updated: 18 June 2019 11:36 IST

J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Nears $500 Million Overall Deal With WarnerMedia: Report

Photo Credit: Aaron Poole/AMPAS

J.J. Abrams at the 2016 Oscars

Highlights

Abrams’ TV shows are already at WarnerMedia
New deal would cover both movies, TV shows
Bad Robot might still be able to produce for Apple

J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot production company is reportedly nearing an overall deal with WarnerMedia, that could be worth over $500 million (about Rs. 3,490 crores), though there's no word on how many years the deal would cover. That would ensure that his TV business — which has included hits such as Westworld on HBO — would stay at WarnerMedia, while his film business that has covered Star Trek and Mission: Impossible in the past with Paramount Pictures, would move to the company as well.

Deadline first brought word of the new development, noting that WarnerMedia has “emerged as the frontrunner” in courting Abrams and Bad Robot, with Apple being the other major contender. That's due to his longstanding relationship with Warner Bros. Television, and the massive paycheck they have placed at his feet. Abrams' conversations with Apple have reportedly shifted to a working partnership, with the WarnerMedia deal expected to allow Bad Robot to develop projects for others.

Abrams has history at both WarnerMedia and Apple, as of now. The aforementioned Westworld is the only ongoing series at WarnerMedia-owned HBO. Bad Robot is developing three additional series in Lovecraft Country, Contraband, and They Both Die at the End. Lovecraft Country and They Both Die at the End are based on Matt Ruff and Adam Silvera's respective books of the same name. Contraband, earlier titled Demimonde, is Abrams' first original series creation since Alias in 2001. Lovecraft Country and Contraband are set at HBO.

With Apple, Abrams' Bad Robot has three series in the works for its streaming service Apple TV+. That includes Little Voice, My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, and Lisey's Story. Sara Bareilles will lend her voice to Little Voice, which was confirmed at Apple's TV+ announcement event back in March. Jennifer Garner is set to star and executive produce My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, based on Amy Silverstein's memoir. Stephen King is scripting the adaptation of his own novel, Lisey's Story, which will star Julianne Moore. Warner Bros. Television is a producer on all three, thanks to Abrams' current deal.

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