Apple slugs it out with HBO over new J.J. Abrams TV drama - report

A bidding war has reportedly broken out between Apple and HBO for rights to a new science fiction drama written by Star Trek director and Lost co-creator J.J. Abrams.

The series would "deal with a world's battle against a monstrous, oppressive force," according to Variety. Abrams would both write and take an executive producer's credit, with Warner Brothers slated to produce the series.

There is no word on how much the rights to the series might go for.

Any series from Abrams is likely to be a winner for the company that secures it. Abrams has not only created and produced a number of incredibly successful shows - including Lost, Alias, and Westworld - but has also gained fame in recent years as a director.

He has helmed installments of two of science fiction's most legendary properties with his Star Trek reboot and the recent Star Wars series, with more installments on the way in both universes.

Last week, Apple reportedly picked up another sci-fi drama from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. The company is said to have budgeted as much as $1 billion for original content in its new worldwide video division.

13 Comments

The_Martini_Cat 12 Years · 485 comments

About 6 years ago

I would not want to be in a bidding with with Apple.🍸🙀

christopher126 16 Years · 4366 comments

Apple is sending a message to the cable/media dinosaurs...it doesn't matter what Apple bids, as long as they win.

It's an investment. One day more movies will be viewed in iTunes than viewed at movies theaters. Then TV!

Tim already said, a few years back, when he sits down to watch TV, it's like he stepped back in time to the 1990's!

I agree w/ him. I pay a little more for a purchase/rental of iTunes movies and tv shows to "support the future" and the demise of the cable/media dinosaurs!

I don't like Netflix, movie theaters, DVD's, RedBox, HBO, Network television or the cable companies! :)

I'll be quite happy with a 4K 85" dumb flat-screen TV, a 4K AppleTV, iTunes and one or two HomePods. I want the cable company to be just the 'pipes.' That is until something better comes along. :)

macseeker 8 Years · 541 comments

J.J. Abrams and Apple not a good combination. Makes Apple look cheap. J.J. Abrams destroyed the Star Trek franchise.

entropys 13 Years · 4316 comments

Will the series feature lens flares?

jd_in_sb 14 Years · 1599 comments

macseeker said:

J.J. Abrams and Apple not a good combination. Makes Apple look cheap. J.J. Abrams destroyed the Star Trek franchise.

The first Abrams Trek was a big success and widely hailed as revival of the franchise. But it went down hill from there. The last one was a mess with too much CG