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Lena Waithe Signs Overall Deal with Amazon, Reportedly Over $10 Million
We’re not talking chump change!
Lena Waithe is a busy bee and big businesses want a piece of the pie. The latest to get in? Amazon, who has signed the writer and producer to an overall deal.
Waithe's new agreement already encompasses three projects, according to Deadline. One of those is Them, a horror anthology that will tackle race in its first season. While Waithe is the executive producer of the project, she points to the writer Little Martin as the creator. Ashley Thomas and Deborah Ayorinde will star in the debut season.
The projects are said to be a part of a two-year pact that will bag her eight figures.
"Lena is a powerhouse writer and producer who also has a gift for identifying exciting and authentic voices," Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, said in a statement. "Our upcoming seriesThem is the result of her rare ability to cultivate brilliant voices like Little Marvin and bring his wholly original and compelling vision to Amazon. We look forward to collaborating with Lena and her team for years to come."
The partnership will add to an already-full plate for Waithe. Amongst other things, with her production company Waithe Hillman Grad, she has shows like Twenties, The Chi, Boomerang, How to Make Love to a Black Woman and even a yet-to-be-titled project with Kid Fury. Her first feature film writing credit was Queen & Slim, which features Indya Moore amongst other talent and will drop in November.
This makes Waithe just the latest queer creative to announce an overall deal. Ryan Murphy and Janet Mock have been locked in for deals at Netflix while Greg Berlanti signed with Warner Bros. TV. It will be interesting to see whether or not this is just the beginning of a string of announcements Amazon has.
RELATED | Janet Mock Is the First Trans Woman to Sign Overall Deal with Netflix
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
