Apple is starting its foray into original programing by ordering two seasons of a television drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The yet untitled series will center on the cruel world of network morning television shows.
Both Aniston and Witherspoon will also serve as executive producers for the series, which has received commitment from Apple even without producing a pilot.
This is a big catch for a newcomer like Apple, which likely faced great competition from other networks because of the big-name actors involved in the show.
The book "Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV," written by CNN reporter Brian Stelter will serve as background and research material for the series. Jay Carson from "House of Cards" will write and produce the series.
The upcoming show is described as "an inside look at the lives of the people who help America wake up in the morning." It will tell stories about the "unique challenges faced by the women and men who carry out this daily televised ritual."
This will mark Aniston's return to television, almost 14 years since her hugely popular series "Friends" ended. It will also be a TV reunion of sorts between the two actresses, as Witherspoon also appeared briefly in "Friends," portraying Aniston's younger sister.
Aside from the untitled morning television drama, Apple has also ordered another scripted series titled "Amazing Stories." It is a revival of the anthology show by Steven Spielberg, which aired in the late 1980s.
The new "Amazing Stories" will reportedly have a budget of $5 million per episode. "Hannibal's" Bryan Fuller will serve as writer and producer of the show.
Last year, Apple released its new unscripted television programs, "Planet of the Apps" and "Carpool Karaoke." Even though both were met with negative critical response, Apple seems to be intent on producing more content and compete with the likes of Netflix and Hulu, which have produced award-winning shows.
