Amazon Studios Signs First Look Television Deal with Maya Rudolph & Natasha Lyonne

Amazon Studios today announced it has signed a first look television deal with Emmy Award-nominee Maya Rudolph, and her creative partner and Emmy Award-nominee Natasha Lyonne. The pair, under the Animal Pictures banner, will create original series for Amazon Studios which will be made available on Amazon Prime Video in over 200 countries and territories.

"Maya and Natasha are proven talents in front of and behind the camera, and we are so excited to tap into this powerful creative brain TRUST and be in business with these fiercely funny and phenomenally smart women," said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios.

"I've had an incredible experience working with the team at Amazon Studios on Forever, where they have given us true creative freedom," said Rudolph. "I'm excited to extend this relationship and to have the opportunity for Natasha and myself to continue to develop new shows for a global audience."

Lyonne added, "I am thrilled to extend the creative partnership I have with my lifelong and brilliant friend Maya, under our new shingle. Amazon Studios has galvanized Animal Pictures and we can't wait to bring to life our ideas and support emerging and original voices."

Rudolph is an Emmy-nominated actress who has established herself as a captivating, versatile performer across comedy, drama, and music. Rudolph can be seen in the critically-acclaimed Amazon Prime original series Forever, that she also produced, starring alongside Fred Armisen. Rudolph stars in Amy Poehler's upcoming movie Wine Country which will be released in May 2019. Additional film credits include Bridesmaids, The Way Way Back, Maggie's Plan, Sisters, and Away We Go, among many others. She is also THE VOICE of Connie the Hormone Monstress on the much buzzed about animated show Big Mouth. Rudolph began her career on the small screen on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE where she was a show regular for over seven years.

Lyonne started her film career in Pee-wee's Playhouse which led to roles in more than 50 films including But I'm a Cheerleader and Slums of Beverly Hills. She stars as a series regular in Netflix's Orange is the New Black, a role for which she received an Emmy nomination. She will direct an episode of the forthcoming season of Orange is the New Black. Lyonne co-created the upcoming Netflix series Russian Doll with Amy Poehler. She wrote and directed for the series which stars her as Nadia, a young woman on a journey as the guest of honor at a seemingly inescapable party one night in New York City. Last year, Natasha made her directorial debut with the Kenzo film Cabiria, Charity, Chastity. She also wrote the screenplay for the film which stars Rudolph, Fred Armisen, and Leslie Odom Jr among others. Next year she will be seen alongside Lucas Hedges and FKA Twigs in Alma Harel and Shia Labouef's Honey Boy.

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