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Streaming stars: The stellar names working with Netflix and Amazon (pictures)

Streaming services are putting their money into backing the next films and TV shows from a galaxy of big names.

Richard Trenholm
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Richard Trenholm
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1 of 28 Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

Woody Allen

The story goes that Kevin Spacey bought a Netflix subscription for the "Manhattan" and "Annie Hall" director so he could watch Spacey's Netflix show "House of Cards". It's a bit of a coup then that Amazon has secured Allen's first ever TV series. “I don’t know how I got into this. I have no ideas and I’m not sure where to begin," said the writer, actor, director and jazz musician.

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2 of 28 Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic

Ricky Gervais

The creator of "The Office" and "Extras" will direct and star in "Special Correspondents" for Netflix. Eric Bana's in it too.

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3 of 28 Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images

Angelina Jolie Pitt

The Oscar-winning actor will direct for Netflix an adaptation of "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers", a memoir by Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung about her struggles under the Khmer Rouge regime.

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4 of 28 Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Bill Murray

Sophia Coppola will direct the deadpan former "Saturday Night Live" icon and an all-star cast in "A Very Murray Christmas" for Netflix, guests including George Clooney, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock and Miley Cyrus.

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5 of 28 Gisela Schober/WireImage

Leonardo DiCaprio

The "Wolf of Wall Street" star will produce a series of environmental documentaries for Netflix.

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6 of 28 David Banks/Getty Images

Spike Lee

The "Do the Right Thing" director's next feature, the Chicago-set "Chi-raq", is backed by Amazon.

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7 of 28 Amazon

Jeremy Clarkson

Having left long-running and globally-beloved BBC motoring show "Top Gear" after a fracas over a sandwich, Clarkson (centre) has signed for Amazon with his sidekicks James May (left) and Richard Hammond (right).

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8 of 28 Getty

Steven Soderbergh

Having apparently retired from directing movies, the "Out of Sight" auteur is producing '80s-set "Red Oaks" for Amazon, starring Craig Roberts and helmed by David Gordon Green.

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9 of 28 Serge Benhamou/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Michelle Yeoh

Action star Yeoh returns to the role that brought her to the attention of western audiences 15 years ago in Netflix's first ever feature, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" sequel "The Green Legend".

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10 of 28 Jason Merritt/Getty Images for PSIFF

Brad Pitt

The "Fight Club" star will play an army general in "War Machine", directed by "Animal Kingdom" helmer David Michôd. The film is based on the best-selling book "The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan" by Michael Hastings.

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11 of 28 Daniele venturelli

Baz Luhrman

The "Moulin Rouge" director is working with "The Shield" creator Shawn Ryan on "The Get Down" for Netflix, a drama exploring the music of New York in the early days of hip-hop.

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12 of 28 Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images

Ridley Scott

The "Alien" and "Blade Runner" director is producing visually-stunning Philip K Dick adaptation "The Man in the High Castle" for Amazon.

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13 of 28 Rich Polk/Getty Images

Will Arnett

The "Arrested Development" star, who also voices the main character in Netflix original show "Bojack Horseman", will write and star in "Flaked" for the same service.

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14 of 28 Getty

Bob Odenkirk and David Cross

After appearing in "Breaking Bad" and "Arrested Development" respectively, the "Attack of the Show" pair return to sketch comedy in Netflix show "With Bob and David".

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15 of 28 Getty

Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson

The loveable scamps from "That '70s Show" play brothers in comedy "The Ranch" for Netflix, also starring Sam Elliot.

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16 of 28 Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Winona Ryder

The "Heathers" star will appear in supernatural drama "Montauk" on Netflix. With "Show Me a Hero" on HBO and "Beetlejuice 2" on the cards, is this the start of the #Winonaissance?

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17 of 28 Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Cary Fukunaga

The director of the first series of "True Detective" will give the orders to Idris Elba in "Beasts of No Nation" on Netflix.

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18 of 28 Samir Hussein/WireImage

Jamie Dornan

The "Fifty Shades of Grey" star will play a soldier in '60s-set war drama "Jadotville" for Netflix.

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19 of 28 Laura Lezza/Getty Images

Terry Gilliam

The "12 Monkeys" director has infamously struggled to secure Hollywood backing for his stunning, off-kilter visions in the past, but now he has found a home at Amazon.

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20 of 28 Andy Pareti/Getty Images for SXSW

Bill Burr

The irascible Boston comic writes and lends his vowels to animated sitcom "F is for Family", also starring the voices of Laura Dern and Justin Long.

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21 of 28 Getty

Christopher Guest

The comic genius behind "Spinal Tap" and "Best in Show" will next explore the world of "Mascots" in a Netflix show.

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22 of 28 Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Gerard Depardieu

Depardieu plays politics in "Marseille", the first French-language original show from Netflix. French novelist and screenwriter Dan Franck is in charge.

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23 of 28 Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Aziz Ansari

The stand-up comic and "Parks and Recreation" star appears in sitcom "Master of None" in November 2015.

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24 of 28 Maarten de Boer/Getty Images Portrait

Matt Smith

Former "Doctor Who" star Smith will appear in the first British production from Netflix, royal history drama "The Crown". American actor John Lithgow will play Winston Churchill.

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25 of 28 Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Chelsea Handler

Four episode documentary series "Chelsea Does" will tackle marriage, racism, technology and drugs, before Handler launches a talk show for Netflix in 2016.

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26 of 28 Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Judd Apatow

The "Knocked Up" director has created "Love" with Lesley Arfin. Netflix has ordered two series, which will feature "Community" star Leslie Jacobs.

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27 of 28 Noam Galai/WireImage

Adam Sandler

"The Wedding Singer" star's next four movies will be exclusively available on Netflix.

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28 of 28 Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Jim Jarmusch

The indie auteur has signed a deal with Amazon.

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