With Netflix already ramping up more original programming and Hulu plus following suit, Amazon is wasting no time in attempting to keep up, The company’s Amazon Studios division has announced five pilots that will make their debut later this month in the United States and the UK, as part of an initiative to get new series launched for the Prime service.

With the previous pilot “seasons,” users were invited to provide feedback on specific shows to determine which ones to keep as full programming for the Prime service, and which ones to not continue production on.

“We are delighted to be able to bring Amazon customers new shows from some of Hollywood’s most talented actors and creators,” said Amazon Studios director Roy Price. “There is something for everyone in this season and I can’t wait to hear our customers’ feedback when they premiere later this month.”

First up with the new pilots is The Cosmopoiltans, a series written and directed by Whit Stilman of Barcelona and The Last Days of Disco fame. It’s a comedy that focuses on a number of young Americans searching for love and friendship around Paris. The series features Chloe Sevigny and Adam Brody.

Next up is Marc Forster’s Hand of God, which stars Ron Perlman and Dana Delany and deals with a judge who suffers a mental breakdown and goes on a quest to find the person who tore his family apart. Forster previously worked on such films as World War Z and Finding Neverland.

Hysteria is a new thriller series created by Shaun Cassidy, which centers on a girls’ competitive dance team based in Texas that comes across a strange illness that begins to spread throughout social media. Mena Suvari stars in the pilot.

Really is the latest comedy effort from Super Troopers alum Jay Chandrasekhar, with a group of suburban Chicago couples doing whatever they can to stay young. The series features a number of stars, including Sarah Chalke, Selma Blair, and Rob Delaney.

Finally, the Steven Soderbergh-produced Red Oaks is a comedy series featuring Craig Roberts as an assistant tennis pro at a country club in 1985. The series also features Jennifer Grey from Dirty Dancing fame and veteran Paul Reiser.

All the series will debut on Amazon Prime on August 28. Customers are invited to come and take a view.

Source: Variety