Apple Grabs Original Drama Starring Witherspoon, Aniston

Apple confirmed it has ordered two seasons of a new original drama with high-profile stars Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.

The show, set in the world of morning TV, was also reportedly sought by Netflix, and the deal signals that digital companies are becoming big players in the long-form scripted programming arena.

The project will go straight to series.

Related: Apple Intros Apple TV 4K

As had been earlier reported, Apple said it also ordered a reboot of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories from Universal Television and Ambiln Television. It will be executive produced by Spielberg in partnership with Bryan Fuller.

The Witherspoon-Aniston series comes from Media Res. Founder Michael Ellenberg is executive producing, along with Witherspoon through her Hello Sunshine production company.

Jay Carson from House of Cards will be the showrunner of the series. CNN’s Brian Stelter will consult, with his book, Top of the Morning, providing additional background material.

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.