Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Neo2199 OP t1_iy8vs0h wrote

> MGM+, the premium cable network and streamer currently known as Epix, has landed domestic rights to Damian Lewis drama 'A Spy Among Friends' after the series was to have aired as a Spectrum original.

> The six-episode series that reunites the Billions star with his former Homeland exec producer Alexander Cary was among the programs that were left without a home after Charter shut down its Spectrum Originals banner following the departure of exec Katherine Pope.

> Created by Cary, Spy is based on the New York Times best-selling book by Ben Macintyre. The series, produced by Sony and BritBox parent ITV Studios and Veritas Entertainment Group, revolves around the defection of a British intelligence officer and KGB double agent (Guy Pearce, who replaced Dominic West, who was originally in talks for the part) and his relationship with an MI6 friend and colleague (Lewis). The role marks Lewis’ follow-up to Showtime’s Billions. Cary, Patrick Spence, Nick Murphy, Chrissy Skinns, Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer, Peter Jaysen and Lewis exec produce.

> The series was originally supposed debut this fall first domestically on Spectrum Originals and then to stream on ITVX (which includes the former BritBox). It will launch first on ITVX starting Dec. 8 and then at a date to be determined on MGM+ in 2023.

7

Col_Irving_Lambert t1_iy8won8 wrote

Oh Epix just refuses to die. I'm looking forward to watching this when it eventually ends up on one of the bigger streaming services.

The cablefication of streaming continues.

24

Educational-Tower t1_iy91gcq wrote

Lewis’s own comments pitching the show make clear this is left-wing propaganda

−29

airchinapilot t1_iy91ohs wrote

Two of my favorite actors. Hopefully this shows up on a major streamer I don't have to pay extra for.

8

Maddukks t1_iy996zt wrote

Oh man I loved this book; so fascinating. Can’t wait for this

4

Neo2199 OP t1_iy9hvum wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#774,251)

Amazon closed its acquisition of MGM in March.

> Seems odd this isn't on Prime if MGM+ is a thing.

Yeah, MGM+, formerly known as Epix, should have been part of Prime, not a separate service. This comes off as double dipping.

5

TheSeventhAnimorph t1_iy9sbiu wrote

Replying to Neo2199 (#774,845)

They almost certainly can't just unilaterally throw everything that was previously on one service onto another; the only options are probably to either shut down the MGM+ service and not have stuff on it available at all for a while or to renegotiate a lot of contracts before merging them. (They may still make contracts for new things like this to help justify the service's existence in the meantime, but with provisions that would allow the content to be moved once all the renegotiations are done.)

3

TheSeventhAnimorph t1_iy9siva wrote

Replying to downonthesecond (#776,486)

I honestly can't tell if this is a joke or not; your choices here are confusing for multiple reasons.

But in any case, That's My Bush! is a genuinely great show that holds up surprisingly well; I watched it for the first time just a few years ago. But I've never seen Lil' Bush.

2

limaconnect77 t1_iya5tb2 wrote

Blake would have made for a much more interesting character study.

1

StephenHunterUK t1_iya89vf wrote

Not just any double agent - Kim Philby. The biggest of the Cambridge Five.

Ben Macintyre writes his stuff like a novel, but they're non-fiction books; he's also the guy behind the original book for SAS: Rogue Heroes.

21

lightsongtheold t1_iyagxc4 wrote

Replying to Neo2199 (#774,845)

To be fair Paramount do the same with multiple services and so do Disney. I’m sure Amazon will bin MGM+ as soon as the cable revenue drops to the point that it is no longer profitable. Which is likely not that far off.

2

im_a_dick_head t1_iydmq22 wrote

Watching Damian on the show "Life" right now, saw him on Homeland too, he is really good at playing weird people, unless that's not an act...

1