Hollywood cues up podcast adaptations

Future. Podcasts are all the rage in Hollywood, with several adaptations in nearly every genre debuting this year. The demand for podcasts shows no sign of slowing, which may inspire creators to use podcasts to beta test and build an audience for original ideas…. in an industry that unfortunately doesn’t buy many of them.

Earful
If you’re looking for the next Hollywood hit, start with your ears.

• Podcast adaptations have hit a fever pitch this year, with Netflix’s Archive 81, AppleTV’s WeCrashed, and Starz’s Gaslit all releasing before the summer.
• That’s because creators are leveraging podcasts, which are an excellent way to convey a project’s tone, build an audience, and attract talent.

The demand for podcast adaptations has skyrocketed. Chernin Entertainment and Spotify inked a deal to develop projects across mediums, while TV-heavyweight Universal Content Production even launched its own in-house podcast division, UCP Audio, that already has a show slated with Sam Esmail — who previously adapted the podcasts Homecoming into a hit show for Amazon Prime.

But, even though 57% of Americans listened to podcasts last year, that doesn’t mean that every adaptation (even if it’s filled with top-shelf talent) is guaranteed to draw in the same audience that listened to the podcast. Apple TV’s The Shrink Next Door (starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd) anecdotally didn’t draw anywhere near as much attention as the Wondery-produced podcast.