After months of speculation if they will return or just lie in their piles of money, it looks like the boys from Top Gear have inked a lucrative deal with Amazon streaming services.
The producer-hitting, homophobic slurring, known butthead Jeremy Clarkson is set to film a new, unscripted show about cars exclusively for Amazon’s subscription video service. Clarkson will be joined by his former Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond and James Mear, who also left the BBC after Top Gear was disbanded.
As reported in March, Clarkson was fired after he punched a Top Gear producer. Despite all his controversy, Clarkson is stinking rich (with an estimated net worth of $30 million pounds).
Amazon won the global rights to the new series, beating out Netflix which was rumoured to be interested in nabbing the former Top Gear boys. Amazon is available (legally) in the US, UK and Germany. The streaming service can also license rights to the show to broadcasters or streaming services in other territories around the world where it isn’t available.
According to The Australian, a number of Amazon Video executives, including Amazon Studios head Roy Price, were involved in negotiating the deal. William Morris Endeavor represented the talent. The boys inked a three-year deal with an option to extend it.
Twitter response:
Best of luck to Jeremy, James & Richard! And good luck to @AmazonVideo! Here’s a tip from us at #TopGear: Keep the boys away from caravans.
— Top Gear BBCAmerica (@TopGear_BBCA) July 30, 2015
Is it true that the newly free unrestrained #TopGear is thinking of hiring John McTernan as executive producer? Think of the ‘synergy’!!!
— Gerry Hassan (@GerryHassan) July 30, 2015
Netflix right now… #TopGear pic.twitter.com/TBqeUGUnLx
— Car Throttle (@CarThrottle) July 30, 2015
Retweet if you’d pay for #AmazonPrime just so you can watch the ex #TopGear trio? Favorite if you woudn’t. pic.twitter.com/MgraWsOv8N
— Car Waffle (@CarWaffle) July 30, 2015
The best thing about #TopGear going to Amazon Prime is that I don’t subscribe to Amazon Prime.
— THE STUDIO EXEC (@studioexec1) July 30, 2015
I want 2 thank #amazon from the bottom of my heart for signing @MrJamesMay @RichardHammond & @JeremyClarkson #topgear. You made me so happy!
— Mark Kordelski (@delsk) July 31, 2015
Can I just say… EXTREMELY excited @JeremyClarksonn @MrJamesMay @HammyHammond is back together. @AmazonVideoUK THUMBS UP. #TopGear
— Jennifer Chang (@Happy_Monki) July 31, 2015
