Amazon 2025 Upfront: Michael B. Jordan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis Light Up Stage as Streamer Makes Strong Return

by

On Monday evening, Amazon showed up formally for the second time at the upfronts in New York, and as expected, they went above and beyond.

At the famed Beacon Theater in Manhattan, just like what they planned for 2024, Amazon generated a series of eye-catching declarations, bolstered by big-name celebrities, to ignite enthusiasm among typically tranquil advertising professionals.

Legendary DJ Steve Aoki kicked off the event with approximately thirty minutes of high-energy beats, provided by Twitch, offering a refreshing start for advertisers who had been traveling through the city since morning attending various network presentations. To recharge on a Monday night, what could be better than some invigorating EDM?

Shortly following this, Lizzo took the lead as Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista joined her on stage. Indeed! Lizzo performed her popular track “About Damn Time,” and after that, they stayed onstage, generating excitement for their upcoming action film “The Wrecking Crew” produced by Amazon MGM Studios.

“Spoiler alert: we kick some ass,” Bautista said.

“Some of us kick more ass than others,” Momoa quipped.

To begin with, it wasn’t a celebrity who took the stage first; instead, it was Tanner Elton, the Vice President of US Ad Sales at Amazon. Elton emphasized that Amazon boasts an ad-supported audience exceeding 300 million individuals. He expressed that these interactions are significant and offer remarkable opportunities for brands, stating, “They are meaningful and present incredible chances for brands.

Next up on “New Heights” were Travis and Jason Kelce, who first made an appearance via video before stepping out in person to a warm welcome of applause. The sibling duo engaged in some friendly banter, with Jason conceding that they tend to talk more than the average person.

Travis and Jason Kelce graced the stage on “New Heights”, first appearing on screen before entering the room to a thunderous round of applause. In a jovial mood, the brothers exchanged playful barbs, with Jason acknowledging that their chatter often exceeds normal conversation levels.

Regarding scripted programming, Amazon has greenlit Season 3 for the show “Fallout”, featuring Jermaine Fowler in the lead role of a “Barbershop” series. They’ve also unveiled a sneak peek at their upcoming superhero series “Spider-Noir”, starring Nicolas Cage. On the other hand, in the realm of unscripted content, Amazon has renewed Mr. Beast’s show “Beast Games” for two more seasons on Prime Video.

Incidentally, you might have noticed that the “Fallout” announcement was preceded by a performance featuring a line of showgirls dancing to Dean Martin’s “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head”. The series stars, Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, and Aaron Moten, were also present, along with Amazon Studios’ Vernon Sanders, who announced the renewal of the series.

Prime Sports showcased their “Thursday Night Football” broadcast along with promoting their upcoming coverage for the NBA, WNBA, NASCAR, and other sports. The highlight of this segment was a Pop-A-Shot competition between Blake Griffin and Ryan Fitzpatrick, where Fitzpatrick emerged victorious (just so you know).

In addition to various actors from the “Legally Blonde” prequel “Elle,” stars such as Octavia Spencer, Elizabeth Banks, and Jamie Lee Curtis graced the stage. Notably, all three are currently developing projects for Amazon’s streaming platform, Prime Video.

Michael B. Jordan personally made an appearance to reveal a fresh series, nestled within the “Creed” movie realm. As one of the project’s executive producers, Jordan is involved in this venture that unfolds at the Delphi Gym and chronicles ambitious boxing trainees who hone their skills there.

The lineup of movies produced by Amazon was a hot talking point, with John Cena from the movie “Heads of State” appearing alongside Courtenay Valenti, who heads Amazon’s theatrical and streaming film division. When asked who would come out victorious in a fight between him and his co-stars, Cena replied casually, “Priyanka Chopra-Jonas.

Shortly following this, action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger amused the audience by explaining how his commitment to “free speech” had resulted in him unknowingly agreeing to speak at some events. As Schwarzenegger continued, his “True Lies” co-star Curtis appeared to guide him offstage. However, Schwarzenegger was unwilling to depart from the stage, much to the crowd’s pleasure. The two then deviated from their planned script, reminiscing about their time collaborating on projects and receiving thunderous applause.

Read More

2025-05-13 05:01