Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
No, thank you Accept
X
iOS 17 Won't Support These iPhonesCNET CouponsWatchOS 10 Fitness PerksBest Solar CompaniesRemote Working in ParadiseBest Satellite Internet ProvidersMortgage RatesMeal Subscription vs. Takeout

Amazon Studios signs TV deal with Barry Jenkins for limited series

The Oscar winner will direct The Underground Railroad, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

marrianzhou
marrianzhou
Marrian Zhou Staff Reporter
Marrian Zhou is a Beijing-born Californian living in New York City. She joined CNET as a staff reporter upon graduation from Columbia Journalism School. When Marrian is not reporting, she is probably binge watching, playing saxophone or eating hot pot.
See full bio
Marrian Zhou
barryjenkins.jpg

Filmmaker Barry Jenkins won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for Moonlight in 2017. The film also won best picture and best supporting actor. 

 Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins is collaborating with Amazon Studios on a new TV series called The Underground Railroad.

Amazon Studios said Thursday that it's signed a first-look television deal with Jenkins' company, Pastel. Jenkins, director of the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight, will direct the original limited series. The Underground Railroad is based on Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name. 

"Barry is clearly a master of groundbreaking, authentically emotional storytelling and we are so proud to have him share that gift with us," said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, in a news release. "We are incredibly fortunate to have also secured his directorial vision for the entire limited series The Underground Railroad."

The show will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in over 200 countries and territories, though Amazon Studios doesn't have a release date yet.