Apple to retell Spielberg’s Amazing Stories

Spielberg created Amazing Stories for NBC in the 1980s

Apple’s long-awaited major push into premium content is set to kick off with a 10-part reboot of science fiction series Amazing Stories from Steven Spielberg.

The tech giant is on the verge of finalising a deal with Spielberg’s prodco Amblin Television to revive the director’s 1980s anthology series, according to US reports.

Spielberg originally created the series for NBC in the US and the revival will be produced for Apple by Amblin alongside NBCUniversal-owned Universal TV.

Screenwriter Bryan Fuller (American Gods, Star Trek, Hannibal) is attached to the project, which had a new cast and director each week during its original two-season run between 1985 and 1987.

The revival comes after it emerged that Apple, which first dipped its toe into exclusive programming with the unscripted series Planet of the Apps and Carpool Karaoke, has prepared a US$1bn war chest to accelerate its push into original content.

This followed it hiring ex-Sony Pictures Television (SPT) execs Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht to work across its programming worldwide, while it has also appointed the former president and general manager of WGN America and Tribune Studios Matt Cherniss to oversee development.

Jennifer Salke, president of NBC Entertainment, said: “We love being at the forefront of Apple’s investment in scripted programming, and can’t think of a better property than Spielberg’s beloved Amazing Stories franchise, with the genius of Bryan Fuller at the helm and more exciting creative partnerships to come.”