PODCASTS ARE HOT, HOT, HOT AS TV ADAPTATIONS
First Published on Bostonglobe.com
‘IT’S BECOME MUCH BIGGER THAN WE EXPECTED. WE’RE KIND OF LIKE THE DOG WHO CAUGHT THE CAR.’
For years, Hollywood has mined books and long-form journalism to create successful television. Think “Westworld,” “The Leftovers,” “Big Little Lies,” and “McMillions,” all of which started on the printed page.
Increasingly, though, the search for compelling source material is leading TV producers to adapt podcasts, audio stories whose established narratives and built-in audiences make them a good bet for the small screen.
Amazon’s “Homecoming,” USA Network’s “Dirty John,” and ABC’s “Alex Inc.” are all examples of popular podcasts that have become television series. But they’re only the beginning. TV deals are so in vogue now that podcasts are being made with the express purpose of adapting them, and others are being optioned for substantial sums even before they’ve been released.
“With an audio story, you already have the audience, and you know, narratively, it’s going to work,” says Steven Fisher, a partner in Underground, a Beverly Hills-based management and production company that represents actors, filmmakers, and podcasters. “There’s a natural path to television. You listen to something, you love it, and you want to visually consume it.”