Donald Glover Sets Eight-Figure Amazon Deal, Taps Malia Obama for First Series

By Claire Spellberg @c_spellberg
Published Feb. 18, 2021, 9:01 a.m. ET

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Donald Glover is taking his talents to Amazon Prime Video. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Atlanta creator and star has inked an eight-figure, multi-year deal with Amazon. Sources say that a few projects are already in development under the pact, including Hive, which reportedly boasts Malia Obama as part of its writing staff.

THR reports that as part of the pact, Glover will produce original content for Amazon Prime Video. These series and films will be featured on a content channel specific to the actor, writer, and producer that spotlights his work and other curated content.

In addition, Glover’s brother and Atlanta collaborator Stephen Glover has inked a similar overall deal with Amazon.

According to THR, Glover’s Amazon slate is already starting to shape up. Sources note that one high-profile project in development is Hive (working title), a series about a Beyoncé-esque music and entertainment mogul. Watchmen alum Janine Nabers is reportedly leading the writers’ room, which has already recruited President Obama’s eldest daughter, Malia, to an unspecified role.

News of Glover’s Amazon deal comes just a few days after the multi-hyphenate announced that he will executive produce and star in a Mr. and Mrs. Smith revival series alongside Fleabag mastermind Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Amazon Studios will produce the forthcoming series with New Regency, the company behind Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s original 2005 film. Amazon’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith reboot is currently slated to debut in 2022.

Beyond his Amazon projects, Glover has various series in production, including the third and fourth seasons of Atlanta. The comedy’s third season was expected to debut in January 2021, but production was repeatedly pushed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In September, FX Networks chairman John Landgraf revealed that Atlanta Seasons 3 and 4 will now be filmed back-to-back in order to prevent additional delays, with the Season 3 premiere scheduled for later this year.