Richard Plepler, former CEO and chairman at HBO, has inked an exclusive deal with Apple TV+ for his newly launched production company Eden Productions. Under the five-year pact, Plepler will develop and produce original series, feature films and documentaries for Apple through Eden, Deadline reports.
Plepler left HBO last February after 27 years and been looking for new opportunities for his company before getting into serious talks with Apple. Reports of the partnership first came to light last November, with Deadline stating that Plepler didn’t have an interest in running the streaming empire at Apple but instead wanted to create content for the service. Plepler is best known for his taste in content and ability to work with talent, as well as green lighting some of HBO’s best series including Game of Thrones.
Apple TV+ is overseen by former Sony executives Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, who are rapidly trying to expand the content for the service. At launch, the service had a limited selection of a few series and original movies.
“I’m excited to work with Zack, Jamie and the standout team at Apple who have been deeply supportive of my vision for Eden from day one. The shows that Zack and Jamie produced, “The Crown” and “Breaking Bad,” are among those I most admired. Apple is one of the most creative companies in the world, and the perfect home for my new production company and next chapter,” Plepler stated.
The service is currently free for one-year for anyone who purchased a iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. For everyone else, the service is $5 a month after a 7-Day Free Trial.
While the service hasn’t appealed to critics, most of Apple’s shows have received positive reviews from viewers.