Reese Witherspoon’s Second Act: Big-Time Producer
- 6 years ago
Reese Witherspoon’s Second Act: Big-Time Producer
Apple’s top TV executives, Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, said in a statement
that Ms. Witherspoon had “an extraordinary knack for being a step ahead of the zeitgeist.”
The rise of Hello Sunshine — with projects centered on strong, complicated women — syncs up perfectly with the #timesup movement, which counts Ms. Witherspoon as a major player, and gives evidence
that the risk-averse Hollywood establishment may have learned something from the blockbuster success of “Wonder Woman” last year.
One of the series — which is set to star Ms. Witherspoon
and Jennifer Aniston as hosts of a fictional morning news show — marks one of the most expensive deals in TV history: With a 20-episode commitment, Apple has pledged roughly $240 million to make it, according to two people familiar with the series.
HBO’s glossy, seven-episode drama, “Big Little Lies” — which Ms. Witherspoon starred in
and helped produce — won eight Emmy Awards, including the one for best limited series.
Her planned Apple series with Ms. Aniston — the “Friends” star’s return to a lead role in a television series — was
inspired by “Top of the Morning,” a book by the CNN media reporter Brian Stelter on the so-called morning TV wars.
It’s still the same 200 people who are working in our business.”
Ms. Witherspoon’s previous production company, Pacific Standard, had hits with the 2014 movies “Wild” (based on the memoir by Cheryl Strayed
and starring Ms. Witherspoon) and “Gone Girl.” It came to an end in 2016 when Ms. Witherspoon split from her longtime producing partner, Bruna Papandrea.
Apple’s top TV executives, Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, said in a statement
that Ms. Witherspoon had “an extraordinary knack for being a step ahead of the zeitgeist.”
The rise of Hello Sunshine — with projects centered on strong, complicated women — syncs up perfectly with the #timesup movement, which counts Ms. Witherspoon as a major player, and gives evidence
that the risk-averse Hollywood establishment may have learned something from the blockbuster success of “Wonder Woman” last year.
One of the series — which is set to star Ms. Witherspoon
and Jennifer Aniston as hosts of a fictional morning news show — marks one of the most expensive deals in TV history: With a 20-episode commitment, Apple has pledged roughly $240 million to make it, according to two people familiar with the series.
HBO’s glossy, seven-episode drama, “Big Little Lies” — which Ms. Witherspoon starred in
and helped produce — won eight Emmy Awards, including the one for best limited series.
Her planned Apple series with Ms. Aniston — the “Friends” star’s return to a lead role in a television series — was
inspired by “Top of the Morning,” a book by the CNN media reporter Brian Stelter on the so-called morning TV wars.
It’s still the same 200 people who are working in our business.”
Ms. Witherspoon’s previous production company, Pacific Standard, had hits with the 2014 movies “Wild” (based on the memoir by Cheryl Strayed
and starring Ms. Witherspoon) and “Gone Girl.” It came to an end in 2016 when Ms. Witherspoon split from her longtime producing partner, Bruna Papandrea.